MANTENO POLICE DEPARTMENT

In 2022, the Village of Manteno made the decision to relocate their police station to an existing facility. The 8,600 square foot building previously housed a bank, and the design challenge called for a complete transformation into a state-of-the-art community policing headquarters. Millies Engineering Group and our architect colleagues at Carlile Group were awarded the project, and the final result is a standout example of how utilitarian design can maximize the efficacy of the officers and staff alike.

Just 50 miles south of the Chicago loop, the Village of Manteno is small yet mighty, primarily serving as a host to agricultural and industrial businesses. In villages like these, there is a population less than 10,000 people, which sometimes leads to civic or government buildings becoming particularly outdated.

This long-term vision was years in the making, and after a competitive bidding process, Carlile Group and Millies Engineering Group were awarded the project. With a 1.7 million dollar budget, a major design challenge was delivering a built environment which will stand the test of time, maximize efficiency by creating a hub for law enforcement activities, and strategically compromise to ensure the final cost was affordable for the village of Manteno. Mayor Tom Nugent described the successful final project as a police department for the new century. In particular, this project stood out as uniquely financially responsible, as the initial projection for a new building like this was at least five million dollars.

Thanks to an incredible coincidence, the city was able to save over three million dollars by compromising new construction with the transformation of a previous municipal bank as the foundation.After being approached, talks moved fast, and our design teams made the conclusion that the building, despite being 20 years old, was of solid construction and readily adjustable to the purpose of a police department hub.

Some key concerns of the police deparment regarded a lack of space. With the force steadily increasing in size, specifically a notable uptick in female officers, there was a need for separate locker rooms and bathrooms in the final design.

Other important features included creating dedicated spaces for different department functions. Rather than sharing rooms for interviews, report writing, and more, officers are able to focus on particular tasks within designated spaces. No doubt, this unique solution to a community need is a win-win for all the stakeholders involved.