The Barrie Simcoe Emergency Services Campus is a modern and sustainably-designed facility that houses the Barrie Police Service, the Simcoe County Paramedic Services and Barrie Fire and Emergency Service. The project included new police headquarters, communications dispatch, and an emergency hub with ambulance storage, a mobile command unit, support areas and staff/administrative training spaces to accommodate its occupants and the local residents that they serve. Extensive consultation with the three agencies and the surrounding community resulted in a facility that meets the needs of all users.
At the time of completion, the project was the largest municipal project delivered via Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and one of the first public safety facilities in Ontario delivered through this collaborative delivery model. Working within a unified team of project stakeholders, general contractors and constructors, our team led the functional planning and participated in the conceptual architecture. We were Architect of Record, Engineer of Record for mechanical, electrical and civil engineering services, and provided landscape architecture services.
Co-locating police, fire, and EMS services allowed for synergies with shared, gym, and building services while maintaining separate areas for each service with different access and security measures. A common entrance allows for connection with the visiting public and between the police, fire and EMS staff.
This LEED certified building was designed to accommodate future expansion including an on-site joint training centre, and can accommodate photovoltaic panels. Measures to control energy usage ranged from an efficient building envelope design to incorporating lighting controls and LED lights on sensors.
Low Impact Development measures were implemented to provide water quality treatment and groundwater recharge. Flows in excess of the minor drainage system are captured by the stormwater management facility for treatment and flow attenuation.