University of Florida New Public Safety Building / Centrex Building Renovation
In the last 6 years (since 2014), UF student living on campus has increased well over 5% and both staff and student population is expected to continually increase at 3% a year for the next five years, public safety then is a major priority. Previously, the University of Florida Police Department was housed in five separate buildings that were never intended or designed for police department operations. The previous Police Department building was originally constructed in 1928 and was actually originally designed to be a radio station (WRUF).
Therefore, this project involved demo of the old UFPD/WRUF building including the adjacent evidence compound and all associated non-critical site utilities to make way for the brand new 50,000 SF facility that now accommodates all current and future operational needs and serves as main on-campus shelter-in-place facilities in the event of natural or man made emergencies. While the plan included complete demolition of the 1928 structure, in accordance with the Florida Department of State Historic Preservation Office, noteworthy historic building components were salvaged and incorporated into the new public safety building, thus commemorating its significance both to the UF campus and to Gainesville.
The UF 200 program also included a complete 5,000 SF renovation of the Centrex Building (Bldg 0132) for UF Emergency Management. This houses the UFPD’s dispatch and the Department of Emergency Management. A part of the renovation was associated with the UF security operation center, however the UFPD dispatch remained in full operation 24/7/365 as per usual during the process.
COMPANY
Client
University of Florida<
Location
Gainesville, FL
Architect
Schenkel Schultz Architecture
SF
50,972