Maximum-Security Barrier
The challenge of this project was to design a new, 70-cell, direct supervision facility on a site with wetlands and hilly terrain. The building utilizes the exterior envelope as the maximum-security barrier so that this facility has a minimum amount of perimeter security fence. All exterior recreation yards are adjacent to the housing units for staff efficiencies and to provide good visibility and additional natural light into the units.
Housing Units
Because of the efficient size of the facility, as well as to help with staffing costs, LaBella Associates worked with the New York State Commission of Correction to provide three unique and modern direct supervision housing units in lieu of the typical four units that have been constructed around the state.
To accomplish this, all areas had to be designed with additional “sub-dayrooms” to accommodate all the different population needs of the County. Each housing area features a large mural with a matching paint scheme themed to the seasons as a calming and normalizing feature for the inmates.
Additional Design Features
As many other County buildings remain in the floodplain, it was decided that the project would also include a large multipurpose room wired with power and data that could be utilized to provide continuity of government for multiple departments on a temporary basis should a flood of that magnitude occur again in the future.
The final design not only restores the full functions of the County’s public safety facility that was flooded, but also houses a new Sheriff’s administration office, road patrol operations, a criminal investigations unit, and civil and evidence divisions. As a true public safety building, the County also elected to add the probation department and the District Attorney’s office to the facility. Additionally, the project includes a major off-site utility design to bring sewer and water in from the adjacent Village of Cobleskill.
