York Regional Police Association (YRPA) New Office & Facility Clubhouse
The new office and clubhouse facility at 63 Eric T. Smith Way in Aurora offers YRPA and its members a new contemporary facility with office space for the association’s growing staff complement as well as additional rentable office spaces for suitable tenants. The facility also includes a new private member social space and a separate event space.
The two-storey building presents an elegant, contemporary expression upon approach. The first storey is clad in Eramosa limestone (quarried locally in Wiarton) with large storefront openings into the Credit Union space. The second floor is open and transparent with large expanses of glass accented by translucent glass and aluminum panels. All office areas are provided with operable windows to allow for natural ventilation during the spring and fall seasons. The north side of the building is crowned with a gently sloping standing seam metal roof interrupted by a two-storey entry lobby atrium of curtain wall glass. A continuous ribbon of clerestorey windows allow natural light into the north side tenant spaces.
The rear south facing façade is accented by a rhythm of stone piers with wood beams and soffits which define a continuous terrace that provides both open air trellis and covered outdoor spaces. The member terrace is punctuated at the west end by a stone clad fireplace. The terrace opens directly off the member dining and games rooms offering outdoor dining and lounge areas.
LOCATION
Aurora, Ontario
COMPLETED
2021
SIZE
35,962 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
St. Thomas Police Headquarters
As expressed by the Owner, the +VG design incorporates these goals:
- Designed to achieve LEED® Silver certification
- A secure and safe environment for staff and visitors
- 24 hours a day during regular operations
- Uninterrupted emergency services and systems in the case of a community emergency.
- A positive architectural addition to the community, which will encourage police and public interaction, and which will increase staff morale through presenting an up-to-date, professional image
- Open and inviting to the public, in keeping with the St. Thomas Police philosophy to be accessible and cooperative, yet meet the modern security requirements to ensure the Safety of occupants and property.
- Compliance with the latest standards of good practice for police agencies and policing adequacy standards and which incorporates the latest in design trends, features, systems and environmental considerations within an established project budget.
- Appropriate spaces to address many purposes including separation between areas occupied by police staff, the public, the press, and victims of crime, witnesses and suspects.
LOCATION
St. Thomas, Ontario
COMPLETED
2016
SIZE
43,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
County of Wellington OPP Detachment, North Wellington Operations Centre
Planned, designed and successfully completed by +VG Architects, this new detachment is not what you might expect in a police station.
Looking more like a town hall or public library, it reflects the growing movement towards community policing: a contemporary approach to law enforcement that integrates community functions within the traditional police station, in order to foster a closer relationship between the police and the community. The result is more open and accessible policing.
Designed within budget constraints, the building has an efficient plan, with no wasted space. Using open plan work spaces for the major office areas allows visual openness and helps foster a sense of community within the detachment.
This is a building of substance, made of quality materials fitting for a public building. Located off of the public entry, the Community Room provides the main link between the police and the community.
The project conforms to Wellington County Green Legacy Sustainable Building Design Standards, a custom alternative to programs like LEED® developed by +VG in collaboration with the County.
LOCATION
Teviotdale, Ontario
COMPLETED
2014
SIZE
19,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
OPP Caldeon Detachment
Planned, designed and successfully completed by +VG Architects, the Caledon OPP Detachment is located on Innis Lake Road just south of Old Church Road in the community centre of Caledon East, local schools and the Caledon Town Hall.
As with most smaller municipalities, the Caledon OPP provide local community policing services and the facility houses five police units including Major Crime, Street Crimes, Community Response, School Resource Officers and Traffic.
The building was designed and located to be highly visible and accessible from Innis Lake Road. The building is clad in natural stone and ribbed steel siding offering a sense of permanence and stability. The building program includes a community meeting room adjacent to the main public entrance for various public outreach programs and information sessions for the public.
The lower level provides staff amenity space including a fitness room and locker areas, various secure storage areas as well as the cell block and secure sally port for transporting prisoners.
The building was designed to achieve LEED® Gold certification through a focus on its environment and reduced energy consumption, water usage reduction, storm water controls, local trades and a compact building footprint.
LOCATION
Caledon, Ontario
COMPLETED
2014
SIZE
24,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
