Soldotna Police Dept. HQ Building

A public building on the strip in a small town in rural Alaska needs a strong presence to compete with miles of fast food signs and traffic lights. This police headquarters stands tall in its context. An arc-shaped wedge soars across the facade in a dramatic massing gesture appropriate to the scale of the strip. Massive pylons frame the entry and anchor the arc to the ground. A strong masonry base and punched windows contribute the sense of permanence appropriate to a public building with a strong civic presence. Finally the facility, which is located adjacent to the municipal fire station, is positioned to create a public space, a green oasis and park on the strip in the tradition of the American City Hall.

The security needs of the facility are accommodated without being obtrusive. Careful zoning of functions and judicious use of bullet-proof glazing result in an inviting yet secure building. Behind the bank of full-height glazing the public counter forms the security control point and the transaction center for most general business. Beyond this security perimeter, functions are organized along a double-loaded corridor. Offices and administrative spaces are organized to the south and east, maximizing views to the common green. Garage, storage and mechanical functions are set to the rear of the facility. The clerestory-lit corridor becomes an internal street through the use of material shifts and light to create rhythm, scale and direction,

Associate Architect: Leach Mounce Architects
General Contractor: Unit Company
Owner: City of Soldotna
11,000 SF Cost: $2 Million
Completion Date: July 1995