Municipal Campus Redesign

Dedham Public Safety

Dedham, MA

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Creating A Municipal Campus

The new public safety facility is part of a municipal master plan that includes the 2019 relocation of Town Hall and Senior Center into the refurbished, historic Ames building, a former elementary school. The Police Department and Fire Headquarters operate from the new building on the former Town Hall site with a lively green space replacing the site of the former fire station, completing the Town’s new downtown municipal campus.

Mill Building Vernacular

The design was influenced by the old mills of West Dedham while utilizing materials found in Dedham Square and other civic buildings. The design provides an architectural transition from the residential architecture prevalent along Washington Street into Dedham’s commercial square.

Site Constraints

The proximity of neighboring buildings and limited site area created an urban design challenge. Aside from the 50-foot-deep apparatus apron, the building helps define the edge of the street. Deep excavation allowed for below grade parking that accommodates staff parking as well as a secured area for patrol vehicles and detainee transfers.