While a Police Space Needs Analysis conducted for the village of Bartlett determined that the village’s 26-year-old police station is in “good condition,” it also indicated that the building is not equipped to meet the growing demands of the Bartlett police force.
Williams Architects, which prepared the study, said that in terms of size and functionality, the current facility is already “significantly inadequate” and in need of upgrade and expansion.
Mark Bushhouse, the firm’s president, walked the board through the report at Bartlett’s Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 2, saying that the analysis is an important first step in the department’s growth plan.
Looking at Bartlett’s current population -- and taking into consideration the projected increase relative to current staff -- Bushhouse explained the key elements of the needs study. The firm also visited police departments in Streamwood, Hanover Park and Skokie to compare size and structure, while interviewing current police staff to learn how space was utilized.
Ultimately, the study concluded that the department’s staff, currently at 77 employees, “may need to grow to approximately 105 staff members in that time frame” since Bartlett’s population of 41,700 is expected to increase in the next 20 to 30 years.
In addition, the report indicated that Bartlett’s existing facility of 22,900 square feet should be expanded to roughly 53,500 square feet, providing new space for evidence storage, lockers, a larger training area and additional office space. There is also a concern regarding adequate parking for visitors and employees.
“The exterior walls of the facility are in good condition, but the windows need repair and/or replacement and the roof will need to be replaced in the years ahead,” the report states. “The interior, though well maintained, has become dated and some of the finishes have become worn. The building’s heating/cooling system is at the end of its useful life and the emergency generator is old and inadequate. The lighting system is inefficient and would need to be totally replaced to meet today’s energy codes.”
Alerts Sign-up