Designed to fit within the urban context of the Los Angeles Civic Center, the new 500,000-square foot Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Headquarters features areas dedicated to police administration and operations. The design is modern with both physical and metaphorical connections to the surrounding community. Setbacks, necessary for security reasons, are captured as opportunities for integrating the site at the human scale: a one-acre park; public art program, and plaza relate to passers-by and engage them with the headquarters.
The LAPD Headquarters project was recognized in 2009 with the American Institute of Architects' presidential honor award for "Building Team of the Year." The award acknowledges an important aspect of the project - the successful collaboration between AECOM's design team, the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, the police department, the community, consultants and contractor. The process included the Department of Public Works, City Council members, Office of the Mayor, Chief Administrative Office, Chief Legislative Analyst, Cultural Affairs Commission, and the Project Restore First Street Design Team. More than 30 public workshops were held with community members.
Responding to the city’s goal of sustainable building practices, this project has achieved a LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. Numerous sustainable strategies were incorporated into its design, including recycled content building materials; energy-saving daylighting design and lighting controls; a high-efficiency HVAC system; large amounts of locally produced materials; and water-efficient plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscape materials.