Along with the certification, the $17 million facility, designed by Richmond-based Moseley Architects, is considered as the first public safety facility in North Carolina to attain the honour.
The new 63,000 square feet county building, located approximately 120 miles west of Charlotte in Brevard, incorporates a 120-bed jail, the sheriff’s office with space for the detective and patrol divisions, jail administration, a training facility, and staff amenities. A 911 dispatch and an emergency operations centre are located adjacent to the lobby, which accommodates administrative space and a visitor waiting area with video visitation.
The county jail, which can be accessed via a secure vehicular sally port, features intake, booking and magistrate’s areas, and also incorporates a kitchen with warehouse space, laundry room and other ancillary support spaces. Majority of the building is a single-storey structure with housing pods, which are outfitted with video visitation rooms and outdoor recreation areas, located in a two-storey structure adjacent to the magistrate’s court and the sheriff’s office and booking area.
The facility features a dominant element of brick and steel, and is influenced by the surrounding environment and local architecture with the design team incorporating regional materials.
A host of strategies and measures were employed to achieve the LEED certification such as the use of locally sourced materials, recycled-content building materials and FSC-certified wood products. More than 70% of construction waste was diverted from landfill to recycling centres.
Low-flow plumbing fixtures are incorporated throughout administrative, public and secure detention areas, resulting in 42% reduction in water consumption. Individual lighting controls increase occupant comfort and reduce energy consumption. The building also incorporates a reflective roofing membrane designed to reduce the heat island effect and HVAC loads to further conserve energy. In addition, the facility is outfitted with energy-efficient building systems, equipment, appliances and fixtures.
The county jail features an indoor air quality management plan and utilised low-emitting interior materials to enhance indoor air quality and safeguard occupant health. The building also preserved more than 50% of the site as forest and vegetated open space.
Besides planning and design work, Moseley also provided a range of other services on the project, including security design and interiors, construction administration, transition consulting and staff training.
