Located in the South Bronx across the street from St. Mary’s Park, the new NYPD 40th Precinct replaces a station house on 138th Street and creates a dedicated space for the community, areas for fitness, and training for officers.
Commissioned by the New York Department of Design & Construction in 2014, the Precinct features 45,000 sq ft spread across three stories and includes a new piece of city programming: the first-ever community meeting room in a New York City police precinct.
The building’s form derives from its programmatic requirements, with individual volumes housing specific functions. The precast concrete façade alternates between sandblasted and polished finishes, which stand in contrast to the reflective glass and metal mesh on the rear exterior.
The main entrance brings users directly into the center of the building, where a three story, 60-ft atrium connects each floor while bringing daylight in from above. On the interior, the station is enhanced with metal-paneled acoustic ceilings, ultra-high-performance concrete panels covering the walls, and terrazzo flooring in the lobby.
With its own street-level entrance, the community meeting room can hold classes or events, aiming to promote civic engagement and encourage dialogue with the community. The multipurpose space’s facade is punctuated with round windows in a gradient pattern, allowing for partial transparency with the street while differentiating it from the rest of the building. A vibrant mural commissioned by American artist Jeffrey Gibson adorns interior wall.
Solid perimeter walls ensure security, while glazed reentrant corners introduce natural light and views into the office spaces. These recessed walls also allow windows to be set back from the building’s edge, enhancing privacy.
Amenities for the officers provide spaces for relaxation and exercise, including lockers, showers, and a stress reduction courtyard with separate areas for fitness. The Precinct also houses dedicated space for detective and domestic violence units.
Offices at the NYPD 40th Precinct look out onto green roofs atop each individual volume, which optimize the building’s energy performance. The station expresses the City’s commitment to environmental responsibility and is on track for LEED Gold certification.
The NYPD 40th Precinct reimagines the traditional police station as a beacon of transparency and community engagement, creating a sustainable home for the police force that fosters civic dialogue and sets a new standard for public safety buildings across the city.
_
