Springdale Unveils Next Stages for New Criminal Justice Building

By Roxanne Squires

SPRINGDALE, Ark. — The vision for Springdale’s new Criminal Justice Building and Civic Complex is coming into fruition now that the city has reached planning stages.

At the beginning of this year, voter approval of a bond issue authorized the construction of the new project, which entails creating a new Criminal Justice Building and renovating the current City Administration Building to develop a Criminal Justice and Civic Complex in Downtown Springdale. 

The 120,000-square-foot, $35.5 million municipal complex for the City of Springdale in northwest Arkansas will house a state-of-the-art police facility and a state district court, operating as a building that consolidates various municipal departments under one roof.

The project aims to update the building to accommodate the city’s current population that’s grown since the original complex was constructed in 1995 as well as connecting offices to help further the strengthening of department communication.

As the current police department is comprised of three separate buildings; the recently unveiled rendering reveals a connected police department, city prosecutor’s office and district courts, which will eventually connect to a remodeled city hall. This ultimately works to improve communication within the department, according to Springdale Police Department Captain, Derek Hudson, as reported by NWA Homepage. 

The facility will be built under two phases, beginning with the demolishment and rebuilding of the Police Department and courts areas –– then renovation to the city administrative officers and chamber will commence.

Phase One is scheduled for completion in May 2020, with Phase Two expected in June 2021, said Wyman Morgan, the city’s director of administration and finance, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Milestone Construction Company was hired for construction manager services as authorized by City Council, and Duvall Decker Architects was hired to design the Criminal Justice and Civic Complex through the Walton Family Foundation’s Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program.

Duvall Decker Architect’s team also includes public safety and court consultants from Dewberry Architects and local partner Hight Jackson Associates.

Construction of the new municipal complex is due to begin by June 2019.

Reports from the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette and NWA Homepage News contributed to this story.