Designers unveil updates to new police station

This week, Waltham’s Police Headquarters Selection Committee saw initial architectural renderings for the new police station whose planning and construction the city authorized in May. 

The new police station is slated to be built on the same property as the current police, fire andDepartment of Public Works headquarters at 155 Lexington St. Discussions for a new police station have been in the works since Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy convened the PHSC in 2018.

The architectural firm hired for the project, Tecton Architects, has been working with Police Chief Kevin O’Connell to refine the station’s design. Principal architect Jeffery McElravy unveiled the station’s proposed layout, which includes public meeting and interview spaces grouped around the building entrance; indoor training spaces; improved parking; a locker room that can be reconfigured at a future point to create more space for women officers; a communications center for 911 personnel; and an indoor rifle-length shooting range.

Members of the committee discussed safety and cleaning procedures for the shooting range, security access to various areas of the building and possible room for future expansion.

The project management team indicated that the next step of the project would be to deliver an initial cost estimate, and — once funded by the city — begin final design work. McElravy warned this is the best time for members of the committee to make additional revisions to the plan before project plans are finalized and more costly to change.

Although the city’s initial understanding was that the design phase would take approximately six months, McElravy estimated it would realistically take 10–12 months to complete. The process would involve obtaining any necessary permissions from City Council, the Conservation Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The committee agreed to meet next month to finalize the design contract and timeline.