Project Overview

Designed and coordinated the electrical systems for a new 42,000-square-foot police station and 50,000-square-foot multi-story parking garage. The project required secure, reliable, and mission-critical electrical infrastructure, supporting emergency operations, extensive security, and included NEC COPS design compliance. The design included normal and standby power, emergency communication systems, and access control solutions tailored to law enforcement needs.

Role & Responsibilities

Power & Emergency Systems – Designed normal and legally required standby power systems, including a diesel generator with 72-hour runtime, roof-mounted PV systems, a new utility service, and a centralized UPS system for critical loads.

Security & Access Control – Engineered electrical support for secure entry points, detention areas, armory, and surveillance infrastructure, ensuring compliance with law enforcement security standards.

Public Safety Systems – Integrated fire alarm, public address (PA) system, and emergency radio communications to maintain operational readiness.

Essential Services & Hardened Areas – Provided vandal-resistant electrical infrastructure for high-security zones, including the sally port, detention area, holding cells, and armory.

IT & Data Systems – Designed structured cabling for secure police networks and radio system integration.

Key Challenges & Solutions

🔹 Complex Security & Access Control Integration – The facility required extensive coordination with multiple third-party security system designers, vendors, and law enforcement agencies.
✔ Solution: Conducted regular meetings with all stakeholders to define system sequencing, design responsibilities, and constructibility considerations. Established clear expectations for system implementation during construction.

🔹 Ensuring Clear Design-Build Responsibilities – The security system design-build approach required precise documentation to prevent scope gaps and misaligned responsibilities between contractors and vendors.
✔ Solution: Developed a coordinated electrical package that defined roles, sequencing, and implementation, ensuring the security system’s execution from bidding through construction.

🔹 Phased Implementation & Stakeholder Coordination – The electrical design had to support phased construction while maintaining law enforcement operational readiness.
✔ Solution: Created a single-source set of coordinated drawings, facilitating clear communication, submittal reviews, and collaborative integration across teams.

Outcome & Impact

✅ Reliable & Mission-Critical Electrical Design – The final systems supported uninterrupted law enforcement operations, ensuring compliance with NEC, NFPA, and COPS facility standards.

✅ Security & Power Integration – Secure areas and public zones were effectively separated while maintaining efficient facility operations.

✅ Executed Without Scope Gaps – All stakeholders, vendors, and contractors successfully implemented the security, access control, and emergency systems, ensuring smooth commissioning and facility startup.

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Looking for a trusted electrical engineering partner for your next law enforcement or public safety facility? Let’s connect to discuss how NLS can support your project needs.

Police Station Electrical Design

(Medford, OR)