Awards: Architecture for Justice Award / American Institute of Architects 1980, City of Edmonton Design Award - Industrial Category 1980, City of Edmonton - Best Institutional Building Award 1982
Client: City of Edmonton
Architect(s): The Chandler Kennedy Architectural Group
Partner-in-charge: Sheldon Chandler
Design team: Peter Dandyk and Tom Szabo
Structural: Read Jones Christofferson
Mechanical: Cheriton Engineering
Project cost: $19.3 Million
Project size: 350,000 sq. ft.
Photography: Naomi Minja

The Edmonton Police Headquarters comprises approximately 350,000 sq. ft. including administrative space, training facilities, jail cells, dining facilities, parking and maintenance areas.

This unique building integrates a major police station for downtown within a fully equipped central police headquarters complex for the City of Edmonton.

Planned around a central atrium, the building responds to the high security requirements of the Police function while providing a lower scale and inviting character.

The social interaction of staff and employees was an important benefit of the open atrium concept. This space was a major organizational and planning element for the building and a true "people place" within the secure environment of the structure itself.

The project utilizes an "integrated building system" which coordinates the structural, mechanical and electrical systems into a rationalized unit that ensures maximum flexibility for future change. Extensive communication and computer facilities are accommodated.

Sustainability and energy efficiency were key design factors guiding the design and selection of the engineering systems.

Indirect lighting in conjunction with natural daylight enhances the interior liveability. Extensive interior planting together with graphics and colourful mobile screens for shading introduced a higher level of animation and liveability.