Construction Begins on New Royal Oak Police Facility
ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Construction has officially begun on the city of Royal Oak’s future police station — upgrading the department to a larger, more modern and efficient facility.
The new, two-story, 42,000-square-foot local law enforcement station is part of a greater, ongoing city plan called the Rethink Royal Oak development project, which entails the construction of a new city hall, police station, downtown park, private office building and 581-space parking deck.
While the current station is outdated and struggles to keep up with modern equipment and technology, the new police station’s design will focus on improving operational efficiencies to help officers spend more time patrolling and less time in the station.
The $19 million facility prioritizes easier circulation for the public, including better handicapped access. The new design also provides additional safety measures, seamless public access, technological advancements, and energy and environmental efficiencies.
The new Royal Oak Police Station will allow for a more robust dispatch area. The new space will also be designed with expanded storage space for property the force is required to keep, according to the Patch.
The new building will be outfitted with a modern lock-up and booking area that improves safety for both officers and inmates. The new Police Station will also include a bridge connected to the courthouse, creating a safer process to move inmates to and from separate buildings.
There will also be enclosed, secure parking for patrol vehicles that will allow officers to get to crisis calls more efficiently. Construction began on this new facility March 27, 2019 and law enforcement officers are expected to move into their new workplace by July 2020.
Mount Clemens, Mich.-based PARTNERS in Architecture signed onto the project.
Reports from the Patch and the Royal Oak government website contributed to this story.