The City of Belton, the county seat of Bell County, was incorporated in 1852 and has a rich history involving cattle, cotton and the railroad.  Over the last 150 years it has experienced steady growth, and as part of the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area, it is now one of the fastest growing areas in Texas. With a current population of approximately 19,000, its daily population almost triples each workday with commuters. Additionally, it is home to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with nearly 3,000 students. As infill continues from the city of Belton south to Salado, Georgetown and Austin, and north to Waco, 40 % growth estimates are projected by the year 2035.

Located on 2nd Avenue, the current facility was completed in 1990 and houses police operations as well as the municipal court. At approximately 8,500 SF and a staff of 42, it is significantly undersized based upon the current population served and size of the department.

The City’s goals are to develop a facility that will meet current and future needs of the department, incorporate emerging technological trends, provide secured parking, allow for multiple points of access and egress, be friendly and inviting, and most importantly, strengthen Belton’s commitment to public service. To achieve this, Phase 1 will include a 10,000 SF addition along with renovation of the existing facility.  A proposed Phase 2 with a 9,000 sf addition will meet the year 2032 space needs projections. Included in the renovated and expanded facility will be municipal courts; records, communications, patrol, special operations, CID, administration, and property and evidence departments; and parking garage. Integral to the planning for the addition will be site considerations including mitigating potential flooding and providing secured staff parking.

KAH Architecture teamed with Architects Design Group (ADG), award-winning, nationally recognized public safety architects headquartered in Winter Park, Florida, to design the new 70,000 sf Public Safety Operations and Training Facility for Georgetown, TX.

Located in an 11,300 square foot building at 809 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, the original Police Department was built in 1911 as the Georgetown Light and Water Works facility. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was renovated to become the police station in 1986.

Fire Department Administration offices are currently in an 8,200 square foot facility built in 1892. This Texas Historic Landmark Building has served as the City’s Water Department, jail, City Hall, and original fire station.

The new Public Safety Operations and Training Facility is located on approximately 15 acres adjacent to Fire Station No. 5. The gently sloping site further provided opportunity for the team to design a multi-level building engaged with the landscape to create grade level entry areas on two levels. Exterior courtyards for both staff and public use adorn the facility.

Indoor spaces consist of police administration and support programs, fire administration, emergency operations, communications center, training and other support programs needed for the distinctive personnel. In addition, the facility holds site training programs such as a slow speed vehicle course, a physical training course, a firing range, and an ancillary training and storage building.

The exterior envelope of the building is designed to meet an F3 tornado per the client’s request to enhance the facility’s survivability beyond the code required 90 mph wind speed with a 1.15 importance factor. This is assumed to be 136mph – 168mph of which the design team used 168mph as the basis for the design. Impact protection sits at a minimum Level D large missile impact that equated to a 9# 2×4 at 34mph. Aesthetically, the envelope blends with the existing Fire Station #5 and burn tower currently on the site to create a complete campus feel.

This purposefully designed facility will meet growth needs as determined by the 2007 needs assessment – updated in 2010 – and will allow the function of the two departments to remain consistent with its operational design while adjusting for future growth.

Providing a much needed facelift, KAH Architecture works closely with Williamson County staff to achieve a more functional space within their existing facility while also renovating an adjacent warehouse for additional square footage. We will enlarge the lobby and rearrange the customer transaction counters to better serve the public. We will also be modifying the entrance into the facility. Throughout the renovation, health safety codes will be address to comply with all code regulations.