ROCHESTER NORTH POLICE STATION AND SERVICE CENTER ROCHESTER, MINN. /// by Monica SchulteS Phase Two The project was completed in two phases, the first being the bank renovation and the relocation of DSIC staff. The second phase was the construction of a 54,600-ft2 precast concrete structure to house the RPD North Station. The building was originally designed using a steel structure over the squad parking structure. Construction Manager Kraus-An-derson determined that a precast concrete solution was more cost-effective and had a shorter lead time. Precast concrete dou-ble tees span the parking structure space and hollow-core slab was used for the main office space. “We designed the roof struc-ture over the garage to be structurally sound for future expansion if the department ever grows,” says Michael Healy, senior associ-ate senior project architect with BKV Group. Because the squad parking is tucked under the police station and partially exposed, it is the logical space to potentially fill in the future. In addition to heftier footings, “we coordinated the mechanical equipment locations to accommodate that future expansion,” explains Healy. Like many sectors in the design and construction industry, police and municipal buildings have kept pace with our changing society. Project teams balance the demands of design flexibility with secu-rity and safety requirements. Such was the case in Rochester, Minn. Cities often jump at the opportunity to repurpose vacant com-mercial space, but often the need for more room and specialized infrastructure can’t be met by the existing building. The City of Rochester repurposed a former bank and added on with new con-struction to meet the needs of the Development Services and In-frastructure Center (DSIC) and the North Station of the Roches-ter Police Department (RPD). Moving out of cramped quarters in City Hall and into the new space is paying dividends to employees and visitors alike. The location benefits both the surrounding community and the department. The station is adjacent to residential areas and a heavily used public park, which strengthens the RPD’s neighbor-hood-oriented policing strategy. It also presents one municipal destination for the people of Rochester.