Mayor Mick Cornett, Police Chief Bill Citty and other Oklahoma City officials cut the ribbon, formally opening the Police Department’s new headquarters on Monday.
“We have an expertly trained, highly respected police force, so there was strong support for the new headquarters,” Mayor Mick Cornett said. “The building’s design and construction will serve residents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for decades to come.”
The three-story, 88,625-square-foot building replaces the aging former headquarters, which was built in 1965 and recently plagued by rising maintenance problems and costs. The new headquarters is 11 percent larger than the old building across the street, and its efficient design maximizes the use of space and allows for expansion and re-configuration over the coming decades.
“There are a lot of people to thank for the new Police Headquarters that will serve Oklahoma City for many years, but ultimately it’s the citizens who funded the project because they trust our City Manager, Mayor and City Councilpersons with their dollars, Police Chief Bill Citty said.
“I am proud to say the new facility has exceeded our expectations thanks to ADG architects, Wynn construction and the City’s Public Works staff. They have created a public safety facility the City, police personnel and citizens can be proud of.”
Residents entering the headquarters on the first floor will be greeted by the information desk and records units, helping them access police services immediately and easily. The second floor features the Investigations Bureau, and the new, open-plan design fosters collaborative police work. The police chief’s office and the Criminal Intelligence Unit are on the third floor.
The building’s exterior design complements other buildings in the historic heart of the city, including the Civic Center Music Hall, City Hall and Oklahoma County Courthouse. It will also incorporate a memorial plaza to fallen officers.
Exterior and interior artwork will soon complete the look of the Headquarters, funded by OKC’s 1% for Art program. Public art will grace the memorial plaza on the exterior and will take the form of glass murals inside.
The sleek and modern design also incorporates practical elements inside and out, from security features limiting unauthorized access to the flexible design plan and energy efficiency.
The $27.1 million headquarters was funded by the 2007 general obligation bond issue, the MAPS 3 use tax and the public safety sales tax. Phase two of the project is the 65,000-square-foot Municipal Court building under construction one block to the north. The project architect was ADG, and the general contractor was Wynn Construction.
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Media Contact: Kristy Yager
297-2550 / 863-2831
kristy.yager@okc.gov
