Houston Police Department Property Room
Houston, Texas
The Houston Police Department (HPD) has transformed its central Property and Evidence facility, consolidating functions previously housed in outdated and inadequate structures into a highly functional 21st Century building which has achieved LEED certification.
The 2.4-acre site was master planned to accommodate the new HPD Property Room building along with future HPD facilities. The buildings have been sited to facilitate evidence and property flow throughout the complex and to maximize utilization of the space on the site.
The building is a neighborhood-friendly facility which not only gives HPD a prominent identity, but also maintains the highest level of security. The main entry is framed with metal panels, giving the front door a modern and sophisticated look. The body of the storage facility is composed of textured tilt-up panels which softens the mass.
Security is a critical issue both in the building and on the site. Accommodating the flow of people across the facilities is necessarily complex due to the need to separate employees, officers and public users. Security doors and windows are designed to prevent the public from entering the protected area. The facility is surrounded by security fencing and is wired throughout with security, data and wireless systems. Surface parking for 35 cars doubles as emergency vehicle access (which is required for buildings with high-piled storage).
The facility was designed to maintain the integrity of evidence through proper security and climate control. A storage system of high and/or movable shelving allows each item to be radio frequency tagged and accessible for retrieval without moving another object. Utilizing the high warehouse storage capacity efficiently helps double or even triple the amount of inventory able to be stored in the warehouse.
LEED certification for the Houston Police Department Property Room was achieved through the use of sustainable design and construction practices, including: