Albuquerque Police Station

Designing a 24/7 facility to meet LEED Gold expectations is no easy task, especially when that facility is a 22,500 square foot police station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From the beginning, the mechanical systems were a hot topic and integrating them into the architecture was a primary charge for the owner and architect.

Daylight and openness were driving criteria which leads to solar gain throughout the year in this climate zone. Considerations for a mechanical system that could keep up with the large temperature swings from day to night as well as utilize the building site as a heat sink was a primary factor for system selection, which ultimately landed on a ground source heat pump system.

BG provided MEP engineering design to complete construction documents and construction contract administration services for the facility. This included review of zoning and emergency power requirements to make sure facility function and performance were not impacted. Integration of the equipment locations and architecture drove several items internally. Externally, the ground loop system was located in the parking lot serving the building giving it dual purpose. BG also participated in the ground loop system design and integration with the heat pump condenser loop inside the building.

Achieving the maximum in LEED energy points was a major factor in the projects ability to earn a LEED Gold Certification; the envelope and architecture were equally important to assisting with this rating. In the end, the Albuquerque Police Department has a wonderful facility for its 6th Precinct and this building will be a model for future buildings to come.