All buildings are designed and built with occupants in mind. However, that connection is even more essential for civic projects. The functionality of city halls, courthouses, and both police and fire stations directly impacts the lives of city staff and the public. Therefore, a successful design approach for civic projects requires collaboration with staff, management of stakeholders, inclusion of best practices and so much more.
Understanding the Unique Design Needs of Civic Projects
Every civic project must take into account a wide range of factors. In addition to standard design aspects such as layout functionality and material aesthetics, each project requires a thoughtful melding of elements uniquely critical to the civic market. Through close collaboration, designers can better understand how these design elements impact each client and provide solutions. Here are some of the most critical elements to consider.
Optimize Funding
As publicly-funded facilities, civic projects are often subject to lengthy budget approval before reaching the design stage. If a bond measure is involved, that process can stretch for years. By the time design begins, market and material inflation have reduced the budget’s buying power, so designers need to optimize available funds to deliver the desired project.
Manage Stakeholders
Because of the public nature of civic facilities, decision-makers are not solely those who own and operate the space. Every citizen within the community is a potential stakeholder, as is every police officer, firefighter, judge and staff member who will occupy the facility. With such a large pool of opinions and insight, consensus-building is vital.
With such a large pool of opinions and insight, consensus-building is vital.
Enhance Team Unity
Good team dynamics are ideal for any job, but strong team unity within a police station or firehouse can save lives. Therefore, each design detail, even down to something as seemingly simple as shower locations within a locker room, must be evaluated based on its potential to help or harm team connectivity.
Maintain Security
The public-facing nature of civic jobs makes it necessary to ensure security for both occupants and visitors. Proper design for civic projects needs to consider security elements, such as separate parking areas and entrances for staff and the public, while still delivering a welcoming aesthetic for the community.
Incorporate Flexibility
Civic projects aren’t everyday occurrences for most communities. Due to budget and stakeholder hurdles, these facilities are often once-in-a-generation projects — meaning they need to meet current needs and those 40 years from now. To ensure civic projects remain functional for decades, designers must consider how existing and future staff will use the space and incorporate the necessary flexibility to accommodate both.
Maximizing the Value and Impact of a Once-in-a-Generation Project
With more than 25 years of experience in civic projects nationwide, the Hoefer Welker Civic Studio team has developed a proven approach to addressing the distinct design needs of civic clients.
Understanding the unique nature of civic projects, the Hoefer Welker team focuses on collaboration from concept to completion. Collaboration begins with robust up-front work, from compiling research and recommendations based on past civic work to thorough brainstorming sessions with the client and tours of existing facilities. The open dialogue created through this shared process lays a foundation of trust and mutual engagement.
With more than 25 years of experience in civic projects nationwide, the Hoefer Welker Civic Studio team has developed a proven approach to addressing the distinct design needs of civic clients.
For example, the placement of evidence processing rooms within police departments is critical to maintaining the chain of custody (the legally required documentation of all physical and electronic evidence). Rather than having officers walk evidence, such as DNA samples, weapons and drug paraphernalia, throughout the department, placing secure evidence processing rooms closer to the officer building entrance can significantly increase efficiencies and safety. These spaces include sinks where officers are packaging these potentially hazardous items, allowing them to wash their hands before touching common surfaces like doorknobs.
This focus on collaboration truly maximizes the value each civic client receives from these critical projects. After all, the team at Hoefer Welker knows that every civic project is an opportunity to improve lives and enhance community pride. By balancing collaboration and creativity with extensive experience in every unique civic project design need, the Hoefer Welker team is able to provide solutions that optimize budgets, manage stakeholders, and so much more while delivering impactful projects that stand the test of time.
