ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Moving is never easy.
But try moving 1,000 employees to a new building that measures 167,000 and now you have a real undertaking.
Well, that's what the St. Petersburg Police Department is organizing starting Monday as it transitions to its new $79-million headquarters. The new headquarters is at 1301 First Avenue North, across the street from the old and outdated police facility.
The packing started a few weeks ago and today, departments began being phased into the new building one at a time. Computers are being installed first and once those are up and running, employees will follow.
- Building located at 1301 1st Avenue North
- Project cost $78.5 million
- New structure hopefully will serve as recruiting tool
The $78.5 million project includes a 168,000 SF building, a four-story parking garage, and a state-of-the-art Emergency Communications Center. The building can also withstand a Category 5 hurricane and will house the City's Emergency Operations Center in times of crisis, and the county's, if necessary.
"In the event that the Sheriff's Office were to crash, whether it be a power outage or storm, they can come to this location and their 911 center will run out of those two rooms," said Asst. Chief Mike Kovacsev, pointing out two rooms in the building during a tour.
"This is more than just a new building," said Mayor Rick Kriseman, who cut the ribbon at today's ceremony. "It is an illustration of so many of the things we value, including government partnerships, community, sustainability, resiliency, and public art. It should bring the residents of our city tremendous satisfaction to know we finally have a headquarters worthy of the men and women who protect and serve us. St. Pete will be an even better and safer place because of this new headquarters."
The architects of the new structure took into consideration future growth, as well. Chief Anthony Holloway expressed hope that it would in the future be more than just home for his police force.
"We want everyone who enters this building to feel secure and to know that we will do our best to address all your concerns," Holloway said.
The building's green features include a water cooling plant for high efficiency air conditioning, sensor-controlled LED lighting, automated water controls, reduced Urban Heat Island Effect through concrete parking and light-colored roof surfaces, and 1450 photo-voltaic (solar energy) panels on the parking garage roof. The panels generate enough power to run the systems for the garage and one third of the building space.
To Kriseman, the building may come to represent the department's best recruiting tool.
"If you want to work for the department and have the best facilities and technology at your disposal, this is the place to do it," he said.
Here's a sneak peak inside the new headquarters: