DPS State Trooper Administration & Training Facility

Construction Cost : $11.3M | SF : 30,350 The Texas Department of Public Safety owned 1100 acres in Williamson County near Florence, TX with gun ranges and a few supporting buildings on it. Through the Texas Facilities Commission, DPS commissioned RSA to design a signature Public Safety Administration and Training Facility for the purpose of preparing new cadets, state troopers, municipal police and county law enforcement officers in North Williamson County. The project scope included (20) Training Staff Offices, a state-of-the-art Driving Simulation Room with (12) simulators, a two story Lobby/Gallery Pre-Function Space, Cafeteria with seating for 164, Catering Kitchen, large Tiered Lecture Hall, (2) medium Tiered Classrooms and a 40 person Classroom (each with state-of-the-art technology) and an outdoor Classroom/Amphitheater. RSA’s design called for cladding the building inside and out with large format limestone from a quarry 2 miles away from the project site. Located in the Texas Hill Country, the design incorporated traditional limestone, standing seam metal roof, cedar wood trim and architectural metal work punctuated by the official Texas Department of Public Safety star shaped logo over the entrance. The building has a continuous roof overhang and second floor balcony around the building to shade the large expanses of insulated exterior glazing. Inside, the large two story lobby provides pre-function space for groups of cadets and officers entering the training rooms and cafeteria while doubling as a gallery for historic displays of the Dept. of Public Safety.