Description

This 29,000 SF Combined Public Safety Complex was designed to move the Ipswich Fire Department out of its aging, overworked headquarters, to be the town’s first dedicated Police Department (currently operating out of a repurposed warehouse), and to provide a community room for public meetings and events. The plan was special for its all-electric, solar-ready design, following town and state building energy codes. The building was designed as a net-zero energy facility using zero fossil fuels and many renewable resources: bioswales, geothermal wells, photovoltaic solar panels, porous pavers, and native trees and shrubs for landscaping. Visually, this is a contemporary structure with materials and colors found around Ipswich, inspired by the town’s history and landscape, yet forward-looking in state-of-the-art public safety facilities. These include computer workstations, carcinogen transfer controls, and a fitness room. The red brick complements other local civic buildings, the zinc panels connect windows and create visual depth, and the entrance’s wood slats carry into the lobby as a welcoming gesture. In short, these quality, long-lasting materials are honest to their nature and their town history.