This facility was recognized as a Law Enforcement Facilities III Notable in the 2021 Officer Law Enforcement Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.
The Ashburn Sheriff’s Station in Virginia successfully completes a larger countywide effort to decentralize law enforcement and provide community-based policing. Located in the growing One Loudoun community, the substation supports all police operations and includes a revenue-producing community room available for rent to local organizations. Zoned levels of security enable the facility’s dual purpose. The building design provides a welcoming presence for visitors while retaining a protected perimeter through the employment of restricted approach angles, low walls, bollards, earthwork, and landscaping. All exterior accessible glazing and frames were provided at bullet resistance UL level 8. All site development was designed to preserve passive visual security from the interior. A secure parking compound with two separate means of egress provides a protected environment for parking police cruisers, unloading evidence, accessing the sally port, and staging mobile command units. Supporting spaces accessible from the secure parking compound include evidence processing, large evidence storage, and a processing area for short term holding and secure interviewing accessed through the sally port.
Inside, the public is separated from the policing functions by a reinforced wall allowing the two areas to operate independently. To encourage community involvement, an interview and a fingerprint room are located in the public zone of the station. Within the public service lobby, residents can request information from the policing administration areas, file anonymous reports, and safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs. During crisis events, the large community room can function as an Emergency Operations Center by shifting the secure boundary to the building perimeter. Beyond the secured interior wall, the police administration areas are located in one wing of the building for collaboration purposes, while locker rooms, exercise and training rooms are in the opposite wing to provide sound isolation and improve operational flow.
Architect/Firm Name: Samaha Associates, P.C.