The New Watertown Police Station
The Watertown Police Department will have a new home sometime in 2010. Currently the new building is in the design phase. Our new station will be located at 552 Main Street on the site of the former Browne School. The construction progress will be featured on this page. The architectural firm for the new building is Kaestle Boos & Associates Inc. Take an exterior "virtual tour" of the new building.
From the Watertown Tab and Press August 10, 2007
The Town’s Historical Commission has cleared the way for demolition of the former Browne School. The site will be the new home of the Police Department.
On July 12, after an investigation and research into the Main Street building’s history, the commission voted 6-0 to affirm that the Browne School is in fact historic — dating back to 1930 — but voted 5-1 not to impose a six-month demolition delay to seek more information.
Design work for the new police station is well on its way. The former Browne School may see its last days by spring of next year, but a demolition date has yet to be set.
On Wednesday, members of the police station building committee met to update themselves on the progress of the biggest town project currently on the table. The project would cost an estimated $13 million.
Peter Brooks of Kaestle Boos & Associates Inc. said plans are in place to construct a new building on 34,500 square feet of space. A previous estimate for the new station called for construction to take 20 months, with a completion date in 2010.
Michael McKeon, principal in charge with the architectural firm, said they are currently in the design development phase for the new station and expect to be finished by November.
A current design layout of the new facility calls for four connected buildings to house different units and spaces for the department: public access and administration; officer headquarters; lockers; fitness room; pistol range; detention area and detective’s division; and a break room; roll call office; and space for vehicle maintenance.
Police cruiser parking would be fenced in behind the station.
The firm plans to examine “green” concepts for the construction of the building, or cost-efficient and energy-saving materials that will help make the police facility as environmentally friendly as possible.
“It’s a question of taking advantage of every opportunity we see in the building,” he said about light-colored paving and roofing; using glass and skylights for natural lighting; and investigating geothermal sources for heating and cooling.
Councilor John Lawn, chairperson of the building committee, said he recently walked the property with Recreation Director Tom Sullivan to discuss options for open space and park use.
“It’s been neglected for a long period of time,” he said.
Problems at the existing station on 34 Johnny “Sonny” Whooley Way, including crowding and deteriorating building conditions, prompted a search for a new site and contemplated renovating the current one.
In March, Town Council members approved $1.1 million to fund architectural and engineering services to get the project under way.
A virtual tour of the new police station exterior
This site is optimized for viewing with
