Columbus Division of Police Headquarters

Last updated

Columbus Division of Police Headquarters
Columbus Division of Police Headquarters 1.jpg
Main facade facing Marconi Blvd. and Long St.
Columbus Division of Police Headquarters
General information
Architectural style Postmodern
Address120 Marconi Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 39°57′51″N83°00′15″W / 39.964213°N 83.004114°W / 39.964213; -83.004114
GroundbreakingApril 3, 1990
InauguratedNovember 13, 1991
Cost$31 million
OwnerCity of Columbus
Technical details
Floor count8
Design and construction
Architecture firm Brubaker/Brandt
Other information
ParkingMunicipal garage

The Columbus Division of Police Headquarters is the central office of the Columbus Division of Police, of Columbus, Ohio. The building is located in the city's downtown Civic Center. It is the fifth headquarters for the Columbus police department. [1] The eight-story building was designed by Brubaker/Brandt in the postmodern style, and reflects elements of City Hall's design.

Contents

The building was constructed from 1990 to 1991 on the site of former municipal buildings. It replaced the department's Central Police Station, built in 1930. The new headquarters was lauded at its opening, though it was built over-budget, it had seen issues before opening, and was plagued with problems during its operation, especially insulation problems, for the first several decades of its use.

Attributes

The eight-story building was designed by architectural firm Brubaker/Brandt in the postmodern style. [2]

The building was constructed to the immediate north of the department's previous headquarters, and more than doubled the amount of space. It was intended to reflect City Hall's design, including with granite and limestone facades. The interior includes an open two-story lobby with a central information desk, glass display cases, and a small museum area. Also within the building are a cafeteria and a 275-seat auditorium, both open to the public. [3] [4]

History

The building (center), among other municipal offices and the City Commons park Columbus municipal buildings 01.jpg
The building (center), among other municipal offices and the City Commons park

Space for the new headquarters was cleared beginning on March 7, 1990. A six-story city office building and police garage on the site were razed by S.G. Loewendick and Sons. [5]

Ground for the new building was broken on April 3, 1990. The former headquarters, 77 North Front Street, were too small and cramped for the department. The new, eight-story building, would increase space from 80,000 square feet to 200,000, and have an estimated cost of $27 million. [6] This was a budget approved by voters in a 1988 bond issue, though by 1990, the department estimated costs of $31 million to fully furnish the building and two separate facilities originally intended to be in the building. [7] Two weeks before its opening, the building began to have a rat problem, with several rat nests and rodents found in and around the building, likely finding the largely-vacant building a warm and dry place to live. [8]

The building was dedicated on November 13, 1991, though public visitations, ceremonies, and tours were delayed to further days. [1] The building was lauded at its opening, including being named by "Access: Franklin County" as the most accessible government building during its 1990 awards. Despite this, the main entrance lacked an accessible entrance, and no signage was posted to direct people to the accessible entrance on a side street until the Columbus Dispatch raised the issue in 1992. [9]

The building was designed by architectural firm Brubaker/Brandt. The firm had been approved by Columbus City Council as the architect for city buildings on June 5, 1989, waiving any competitive bidding process from other firms. They were later awarded the police headquarters project. [10] The Police Headquarters building was completed in 1991, but was plagued by controversy and mechanical problems; the most serious was missing insulation in the architect's drawings, affecting heating and cooling throughout the building. [11] The mechanical problems of the building were identified to be caused from change orders during construction, rushing construction for the grand opening, as well as by poor design. [12]

Protesting crowds outside the building during the George Floyd protests in 2020 04 IMG 5487 (50095342616).jpg
Protesting crowds outside the building during the George Floyd protests in 2020

By 1995, the problems were to have been addressed, though contractors were found to only have insulated parts of the lobby, missing a space between the second and third floors, causing sprinklers to freeze and burst. [13] In 2013, the department again hired contractors to fix insulation problems, including removing all of its exterior walls to install a proper thermal wrap. By this time, the original architects, contractors, and consultants all had been sold or closed. [14]

During the George Floyd protests taking place in the city, several peaceful protests were led outside the building's main entrance in 2020. [15] The protests continued into 2021; one event that year led the police to spray several protesters in the building with mace. Police and protesters disagreed over further details of the conflict. [16]

Lion sculptures

One of the two lion sculptures ColumbusPoliceHeadquartersSign.JPG
One of the two lion sculptures

The building is decorated with two stone lion sculptures, nicknamed Patience and Perseverance, first installed at the earlier station's front entrance. The 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) lions have been moved three times in 1991 to the new police headquarters at 120 Marconi Boulevard, in 2012 back to the original building, and in 2017 back to the new headquarters. The first move was prompted by the police offices moving, while the second was part of improving 77 North Front Street during its restoration and expansion. Columbus police were upset with the move, even though the new building was supposed to gain new sculptures. The police union backed the officers, and secured a donation from contractors to move the lion sculptures back to the new headquarters in 2017, where they remain today. [17] [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8 Canada Square</span> Skyscraper in London, England

8 Canada Square is a 45 floor skyscraper in Canary Wharf, London. The building is the global headquarters of HSBC Holdings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citigroup Centre (London)</span> Building complex in London, England

The Citigroup Centre is a building complex in London. It houses Citigroup's EMEA headquarters and is located in Canary Wharf in the city's Docklands. The centre provides 170,000 square metres (1,800,000 sq ft) of floor space across two buildings - 33 Canada Square and 25 Canada Square, and houses the bulk of Citi's UK employee base. The buildings were separated in 2023, prior to a £100m renovation of 25 Canada square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Churchill Place</span> 156 m tall skyscraper with 32 floors, serving as the headquarters of Barclays Bank

One Churchill Place is a 156 m tall skyscraper with 32 floors, serving as the headquarters of Barclays Bank. It is in the Docklands area of London Borough of Tower Hamlets in Canary Wharf. The building is the 13th-tallest office block in the United Kingdom and the sixth tallest building in the Docklands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Nationwide Plaza</span> Skyscraper in Columbus, Ohio

One Nationwide Plaza is a 40-story skyscraper in Columbus, Ohio that serves as the corporate office headquarters of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. It is part of the complex of buildings known as Nationwide Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodes State Office Tower</span> Skyscraper in Columbus Ohio

The James A. Rhodes State Office Tower is a 41-story, 629-foot (192 m) state office building and skyscraper on Capitol Square in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. The Rhodes Tower is the tallest building in Columbus and the fifth tallest in Ohio. The tower is named for James A. Rhodes, the longest-serving Ohio governor, and features a statue of Rhodes outside the entrance. The building's interior includes a large open lobby with 22 elevators. Higher floors have offices for numerous state agencies. The tower's 40th floor contains an observation deck, open to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus Division of Police</span> Law enforcement agency in Columbus, Ohio

The Columbus Division of Police (CPD) is the primary law enforcement agency for the city of Columbus, Ohio, in the United States. It is the largest police department in Ohio, and among the twenty-five largest in the United States. It is composed of twenty precincts and numerous other investigative and support units. Chief Elaine Bryant assumed leadership of the Division in 2021. Special units of the Columbus Division of Police include a Helicopter Unit, Canine Unit, Mounted Unit, Community Response Teams, Marine Park Unit, and Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AT&T Michigan Headquarters</span> Headquarters of American company AT&T in Detroit, USA

The AT&T Michigan Headquarters is a complex of skyscrapers and buildings located at 1st Street, Cass Avenue, State Street, and Michigan Avenue in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It contains the AT&T Building, the AT&T Building addition, the Maintenance Shop and is owned by communications giant AT&T.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seat of the European Central Bank</span> Headquarters of the ECB in Frankfurt, Germany

The seat of the European Central Bank is situated in Frankfurt, Germany. Its premises comprise a twin-tower skyscraper and the city's former Wholesale Market Hall (Großmarkthalle), with a low-rise building connecting the two. It was completed in 2014 and was officially opened on 18 March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Encova Building</span> Skyscraper in Columbus, Ohio

The Encova Building is a 286 ft (87m) tall skyscraper located at 471 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio. It was completed in 1973 and was designed by Brubaker/Brandt and Maddox NBD. It is the 18th tallest building in Columbus, has 21 floors, and 6 elevators. The building initially served as the headquarters for the Motorists Mutual Insurance Group, a subsidiary of the larger insurance group BrickStreet; in 2019, BrickStreet changed its name to Encova, and as "an effort to integrate all of the company’s operations and names under one brand," the Motorists Mutual Building was renamed to the Encova Building, and its exterior signage changed to match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Continental Center (Columbus, Ohio)</span> Skyscraper in Columbus, Ohio

Continental Center is a 26-story, 348 ft (106 m) skyscraper in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. It is the 14th tallest building in Columbus. It was completed in 1973 and designed by architectural firm Brubaker/Brandt. The building follows a modernist architectural style and has been known as the Ohio Bell Building and the Ameritech Building. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AEP Building</span> Skyscraper in Columbus, Ohio

The AEP Building is a 456 ft-tall (139 m) skyscraper in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was completed in 1983 and has 31 floors. Abramovitz, Harris & Kingsland designed the building following a modernist architectural style. The AEP Building is the 8th tallest building in Columbus. It has served as the headquarters of the American Electric Power (AEP) since the company relocated from New York City in 1983.

Prindle, Patrick and Associates was an architectural firm founded by architect Theodore Hord Prindle in 1957 as Titus & Prindle. The firm designed a wide range of buildings, but specialized in jails, prisons, and other correctional facilities. Its most notable projects include the Municipal Court, Hall of Justice, jail, and courthouse annex at the Franklin County Government Center in Columbus, Ohio, and the courthouse, jail, and county sheriff headquarters at the Justice Center Complex in Cleveland, Ohio. The firm dissolved in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus City Hall (Ohio)</span> City hall in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus City Hall is the city hall of Columbus, Ohio, in the city's downtown Civic Center. It contains the offices of the city's mayor, auditor, and treasurer, and the offices and chambers of Columbus City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Columbus, Ohio</span>

The architecture of Columbus, Ohio is represented by numerous notable architects' works, individually notable buildings, and a wide range of styles. Yost & Packard, the most prolific architects for much of the city's history, gave the city much of its eclectic and playful designs at a time when architecture tended to be busy and vibrant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">77 North Front Street</span> City office building in Columbus, Ohio

77 North Front Street is a municipal office building of Columbus, Ohio, in the city's downtown Civic Center. The building, originally built as the Central Police Station in 1930, operated in that function until 1991. After about two decades of vacancy, the structure was renovated for city agency use in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus Bus Station</span> Intercity bus station in Columbus, Ohio

The Columbus Bus Station was an intercity bus station in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. The station, managed by Greyhound Lines, also served Barons Bus Lines, Miller Transportation, GoBus, and other carriers. The current building was constructed in 1969. From 1979 until its closure in 2022, with the demolition of Union Station and a short-lived replacement, the Greyhound station was the only intercity transit center in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bricker Federal Building</span> Federal office building in Columbus, Ohio

The John W. Bricker Federal Building is a federal office building in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. The structure was designed in the Brutalist architecture style and was built in 1977 to house federal offices. It has seven stories, and is part of a 454,000 sq ft (42,200 m2) facility, including an eight-story parking garage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brubaker/Brandt</span>

Brubaker/Brandt was an architecture firm based in Columbus, Ohio. The firm completed some of the tallest buildings affecting the city's skyline including the 42-story Rhodes State Office Tower and the Continental Center, along with other notable buildings throughout the Columbus area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Front Street office buildings</span>

25 South Front Street and 145 South Front Street are a pair of office buildings in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. The structures, built for state offices in the 1960s, are situated immediately north and south of the Ohio Judicial Center. The Ohio Department of Education occupies 25 South Front. 145 South Front Street has been vacant since 2006, though plans to create a mixed-use development in the building were announced in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus City Prison</span> Columbus, Ohio prison operating from 1879 to 1920

The Columbus City Prison was a municipal prison in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. The building was constructed in 1879 in a castle-like style, designed by architect George H. Maetzel. The building served as a prison and headquarters of the Columbus Police Department until a fire demolished the structure in 1920.

References

  1. 1 2 "Officials Will Dedicate New Police Building". The Columbus Dispatch. November 13, 1991. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  2. "Columbus Division of Police Headquarters". Emporis. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. "Police HQ Plans Win Praise". The Columbus Dispatch. February 2, 1990. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  4. Darbee, Jeffrey T.; Recchie, Nancy A. (2008). The AIA Guide to Columbus . Ohio University Press. p. 49. ISBN   9780821416846.
  5. "Way Being Cleared for Police Headquarters". The Columbus Dispatch. March 8, 1990. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  6. "Ground Broken for Police Headquarters". The Columbus Dispatch. April 4, 1990. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  7. "Higher Cost of Police Headquarters is Downplayed". The Columbus Dispatch. June 13, 1990. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  8. "Rats Infest New Police Building – Nov 18 Still Date for Headquarters To Be Occupied". The Columbus Dispatch. November 1, 1991. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  9. "City Defends Police Building Accessibility". The Columbus Dispatch. January 28, 1992. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  10. "Questions Arise over Contracts To Build Police Headquarters". The Columbus Dispatch. May 15, 1993. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  11. "Insulation Missing in Police Office". The Columbus Dispatch. May 27, 1994. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  12. "Despite Problems, Police HQ Called Good Building For The Cost". The Columbus Dispatch. April 14, 1993. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  13. "Insulation Still Problem at Police Headquarters". The Columbus Dispatch. January 7, 1995. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  14. "Downtown – Case closed on cold police HQ?". The Columbus Dispatch. August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  15. "Passionate and peaceful". The Columbus Dispatch. June 14, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  16. "Protesters dispute CPD account of breach". The Columbus Dispatch. April 16, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  17. Futty, John (March 26, 2017). "Guardian lions back in front of Columbus police headquarters". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  18. Coutré, Lydia (August 14, 2012). "Columbus wants to consolidate city offices". The Columbus Dispatch.