New University of Florida Public Safety Building Starts Build

By Eric Althoff

ORLANDO—Architect SchenkelShultz has completed its design work for the University of Florida Public Safety Building, which is now under construction. The public safety building is meant to be a centralized location for the University of Florida Police Department (UFPD), such that they can respond to a wider variety of public safety concerns on campus in a more timely manner. The facility will also allow for the university’s police forces to be more visible and accessible to the surrounding campus community.

The new building brings under one room five separate business unit locations. Administrative offices and community meeting rooms will be complemented by meeting rooms, public records storage, interview spaces, locker rooms, a vehicle port and various other offices.

In a recent statement, Ekta Desai, a partner at SchenkelShultz, said that her firm is proud of the project, and that the building will offer a “gateway” to the campus.

“In working with UF and testing options within our studio, we were able to create a practical, inviting, high-performance space that will accommodate multiple Public Safety departments,” Desai said.

“With the firm’s growing Public Safety design talent and community-driven focus, we have been able to leverage our expertise to create a space that will increase efficiency and impact,” added Johnnie Lohrum Jr., who serves as both principal and public safety market leader at SchenkelShultz. “It is important for our firm to focus on projects that will impact our community in a positive way.”

SchenkelShultz has several dozen public safety projects to its portfolio, including renovations and expansions of facilities for first responders and public safety officials at airports, fire stations, medical campuses and other facilities. Ajax Building is the contractor on the project.