The new 60,645 SF Idaho Falls Police Headquarters represents the PD’s first stand-alone, custom-designed home in the department’s history, consolidating eight locations into one purpose-built campus. The facility is designed to CALEA standards with a mission-oriented mindset. The campus contains a 48,795 SF main building that houses all police operations including a lobby, administration, crime lab, evidence storage, gym, lockers, kitchen/breakroom, climate-controlled storage, sally port, K-9 unit, SWAT / patrol vehicle garage, and room for all PD support staff. It also houses an 80-person dividable classroom that provides much needed space to hold ongoing training for officers and to host regional trainings for area police agencies. This also serves as a space for internal gatherings and community events, giving the PD a space to educate, engage with, and welcome citizens.
From the clearly identifiable exterior to the welcoming lobby, it is clear exactly where to find IFPD. The lobby is designed to provide an array of services and immediate assistance to the public, including finger printing, records, and three secured interview rooms for report taking. This facility offers industry best practices in evidence in-take, processing, and storage. From packaging space, to the crime lab, to evidence storage, this facility will enhance IFPD’s ability to solve crimes, preserve evidence, and seek justice for victims of crime. Adjacent to the kitchen / breakroom is a large outdoor patio within the secured perimeter of the campus.
The auxiliary building is the second structure at the rear of the campus. It includes four large bays for indoor storage space for specialty vehicles and equipment. It includes an attached air-conditioned space for SWAT ready room, armory, defensive tactics, and IFPD’s quartermaster. The project also includes a back-up generator, landscaping elements, secured perimeter access, open parking for staff and the public with future electric vehicle charging stations.
Through the city’s extensive site selection process, the chosen parcel is located on the Northside of Idaho Falls to help revitalize the area. The new site also has a special history with the city as it was home the Idaho Livestock Commission for many years. To pay homage to this, the design team created a historical pathway at the corner of the site that with exhibits that explain the site’s rich heritage. Included in the masterplan is an area designated for a future firing range, which will enhance the departments training abilities as well as provide hosting capabilities for other agencies.
