Village of Lemont Opens New Police Facility designed by Wight & Co.

LEMONT, IL – May 6, 2009 – Village of Lemont officials will dedicate the new $8 million Police Facility on Friday, May 8, 2009, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. at the facility site at 14600 W. 127th Street, west of Archer Avenue. Representatives of the Village of Lemont, Lemont Police Department and Wight & Company, the architect, engineer and construction manager for the project, will be in attendance.
 
The 28,500 square-foot building is designed to be compatible in scale with the adjacent residential neighborhood. The façade is constructed of brick masonry and stone materials to achieve the long-term durability and quality aesthetics befitting a municipal facility.
 
“The exterior design of the Police Facility is derived from both the context of the historic Lemont community and the precedent of law enforcement architecture,” said Kevin Havens, AIA, Sr. Vice President and Design Director at Wight & Company. “Built from traditional brick masonry and stone materials that are prevalent in many of Lemont’s landmark structures, this building conveys a clear sense of security and safe refuge. The large arched public entrance and vertical window bays of the community room make a connection to both the language of traditional police facility facades and recognized Midwestern architectural expression.”
 
The Lemont Emergency Management Agency will also have offices in the new facility. The Agency’s offices are located adjacent to a community room, which can be secured and used as an operations center in the event of an emergency. The community room will also be available to local community groups for meetings and events.
 
“This facility begins a new era for policing in Lemont and we are all excited and eager to begin the journey. The concept of community policing is present throughout our building and will be the cornerstone of future service,” said Kevin Shaughnessy, Village of Lemont Chief of Police. “Wight & Company has done an outstanding job! It is an honor to be the first Chief of Police to serve in the facility which will become an integral part of Historic Lemont.”
 
In addition to updated infrastructure, the building design includes storm water management strategies such as permeable pavers for the visitor and secure parking lots, bioswales and rain gardens designed to fit in the context of the site.
 
“From the very beginning of this project we wanted to be sure that the needs of the department and the community of Lemont were going to be met in the short and long term,” said Mark Wight, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Wight & Company. “We have always had a good relationship with the Village of Lemont so it’s been a privilege to work on a project that will directly impact the community in a positive way.”
 
About the Village of Lemont

The Village of Lemont, incorporated in 1873, is a community with a rich history and a progressive eye for the future. Located along the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, Lemont offers a variety of housing options, shopping and recreational activities for residents and visitors. For more information, visit www.lemont.il.us/about.htm.

 
About Wight & Company

Wight & Company is a leader in integrated solutions for the built environment. Its professional staff of more than 150 specialists has been providing clients with architecture and engineering services since 1939, and design-build and construction management services for more than a decade. As the architect for one of the first LEED certified buildings in the country, the first LEED Certified school in Illinois and one of a handful of LEED Platinum buildings in the nation, Wight is committed to green design principles. It maintains offices in downtown Chicago, Darien, Ill, and South Bend, Ind. For more information, visit www.wightco.com.

Fo more information, please contact Peter Duckler, 312/423-4930; pduckler@hlbcomm.com