The new headquarters will serve as a joint administrative hub for the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and the Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) Department. The new facility will join the city's Public Safety and Judicial Complex, which includes the Lenwood A. Jackson, Sr. Judicial Center and the City Corrections Center.
Mayor Shirley Franklin and others break ground on a new best-in-class public safety headquarters
"This marks an important milestone in our efforts to improve the quality of our public safety services," said Mayor Shirley Franklin. "Atlanta needs a best-in-class facility if we are going to provide best-in-class services."
In addition to housing police, fire and rescue personnel, the new headquarters will include a joint operations center and media room for police and fire personnel, armory and a fitness center. An Atlanta police and fire memorial is also being planned for the plaza.
When it is complete in August 2008, the five-story building will be approximately 165,000 sq. ft. The new facility will be built in accordance with the city's Greener Atlanta Initiatives and constructed to LEED Silver standards.
The move to the new headquarters will allow police and fire personnel to vacate City Hall East, which will soon be redeveloped into a live-work-play community. Most of the Atlanta police, fire and rescue workers will be housed in the new headquarters. Additional public safety personnel from City Hall East will relocate to a renovated Public Safety Annex and a separate 911 facility.
