City of Portsmouth Public Works and Police Departments Announce Selection of Design Study Team for Community Police Facility

In April 2022, the Portsmouth City Council voted unanimously to authorize funds for “the first part of an intensive public process to understand what is needed for a modern community police facility.” That process is scheduled to begin with an update of the 2014 programmatic space needs study followed by an evaluation of options for renovating the existing facility and new construction. The new construction option will include evaluating potential sites for a new facility with the intention of bringing forward recommendations.  

Earlier this year, the City conducted a competitive process to select a consulting team to assist with these tasks. Today, the City is pleased to announce that it has selected Lavallee Brensinger Architects (LBA) and Architects Design Group (ADG) as the consulting team. The scope of work consists of the two parts outlined above: update the 2014 programmatic space needs study and develop information necessary to determine whether to renovate or relocate the police facility to potential sites identified that meet specific law enforcement criteria. Conceptual designs will be provided as part of this process. The team will develop opportunities for community input at various stages of its work. 

LBA was established in 1976 and is headquartered in Manchester, NH with offices in Boston and Portland ME. LBA recently designed the renovations to the north face of Portsmouth City Hall. LBA, along with ADG, who is a nationally recognized expert in the design of modern community police facilities, were also responsible for the new police headquarters in Dover NH, the Public Safety Facility in Wells ME and the Police Department Headquarters in Manchester, NH, among other projects.