10 Trends in Detention Building Design

We ended the ACA conference with a workshop on "Best Practices: A Review of Facilities" where Larry Hartman, Vice President of HDR Architecture, Inc. gave a quick review of 10 trends that seem to be of paramount consideration in the development of a new dentition center.

1) Be a good neighbor - the facade and structure of a building should not be obtrusive or stand out in a community, but should fit the aesthetic already established.
2) Break out of the box - architects and builders should think about ways to create a building that goes beyond a box of concrete.
3) Use inexpensive materials to enhance the design of the building - even if they are inexpensive, the materials should be used in a way that creates a visually pleasing design.
4) Create pleasing public spaces - even though detention centers do not generally attract a large amount of public traffic, those spaces that are available to the public should be pleasant.
5) Clear organization and circulation - minimizes confusion in high risk situations and creates clear pathways of travel.
6) Find unique ways to handle multiple classifications - the most successful structures rise to the challenge of creating safe, livable space for a variety of offender classifications when called for.
7) Reduce the need for artificial light by including natural light in the design - use of view windows, skylights and clerestories help achieve this and help reduce energy consumption.
8) Inclusion of recreation space - a must for all facilities, the recreation space can vary by being indoor or outdoor, each coming with its own specific challenges.
9) Provide for direct supervision - increasingly, newly designed spaces need to be flexible to provide the opportunity for both direct and indirect supervision, taking into account all of the risk management factors for both inmates and staff.
10) Create a calming intake environment - as the offender's first experience with the institution, intake areas are more often being designed to create a more welcoming environment by using softer, though durable materials and incorporating natural light.

The job of the building designer is to meet the special needs of the detention facility through unique design.