Architects think like detectives to investigate each client’s needs

For evidence storage technicians, the questions that arise from designing or redesigning with architects can be revelatory—especially after many years of service, said Jay Hall of in Henrico County, Va. He has worked 32 years with Henrico Police Division and 22 years as an evidence supervisor in the evidence and logistics unit.

“You’re in it and doing it every day,” Jay said. Over time, people can become inured to the issues that plague a work environment or everyday practices, he added.

Working with an architectural firm that specializes in evidence storage is an introspective trip through day-to-day cycles, Jay observed. The process can lead not only to better facilities, but to better and safer practices. When his department teamed up with Moseley Architects to create a new facility, he initially worried the project could be stressful. However, he found it invigorating.

Investigating Functions and Procedures

Architects who specialize in evidence storage have an in-depth knowledge of the work that is performed within those facilities. Gaining that understanding requires assuming the mindset of an evidence storage technician, said Josh Bennett, civic principal at Moseley Architects. The design process requires a combination of investigative know-how and creative visioning.

“It’s about tailoring the design to their exact needs, while thinking things through visually,” Josh said. In the end, the space should not only be secure, efficient and safe, but it should enhance all aspects of the job, he suggested.

“It’s about saying, ‘Okay, they walk 15 steps over to this counter, and then take a piece of evidence, then go to this cabinet and pull a tag and a bag. But do they ever lose sight of evidence in the process?’” Bennett explained.

In some cases, the answer might be, “‘Well, yeah, they put it down on the counter and then have to go around the corner to this closet,’” he said, “In which case, you have to ask, ‘Could somebody tamper with it while they stepped away, even for a moment?’”

Additional lines of questioning could include:

• If officers check evidence in here, where do they check out?
• Is that in the same place? If not, does it need to be two different locations?
• How do you interface with the public and how do you keep that separate from officers?
• Is the lobby securely separated from sensitive law enforcement operations?

When architects conduct this type of sleuthing, it can make the difference between a typical evidence storage facility and one that is tailored to how each department operates or, in some cases, how it should operate.

Identifying Each Unit’s Unique Needs

Much of the design is dictated by local, state and federal requirements. In addition to those mandates, every law enforcement unit and evidence storage facility has its own unique circumstances that influence storage needs. For instance, Henrico’s facility tends to handle a high volume of flat-screen televisions, says David Craig, principal of Spacesaver Storage Solutions, the company that collaborated with Moseley Architects to design and manufacture the facility’s storage features.

“This wasn’t something we had done before,” David said. “So, we had to go out and figure out the best means. It’s about protecting the evidence, and not damaging it or contaminating it, but also about creating an efficient way to store those items.

“Storage is absolutely crucial to our justice system,” David pointed out. “There have been instances nationwide where law enforcement believed they had cinched a conviction, but then a reasonable doubt was introduced by questionable handling and securing of evidence.”

Lines of Questioning

Josh suggested starting every project with a thorough case study and examination, one that places facility personnel around the table with architects and other professionals for some interrogation.

“We try to not make any assumptions when we walk into the room,” Josh said. “My preference is to begin by saying, ‘Walk me through the steps of evidence processing, from the moment an officer enters the building to the moment they hand off a piece of evidence.’”

Beyond assessing the flow of evidence processing and the separation of drugs, guns and money, designers must take into account highly specific factors, such as metal mesh throughout walls and into concrete slabs, and protective grates in air ducting systems.

“Some of the most important things have to be planned ahead in order to get them right,” David added. “Architects have to not only understand why they’re important, but some features have to be built into walls and therefore considered early in the design process, before it’s too late.”

• How can we provide separate access to mechanical rooms without compromising secure access points?
• How can we provide increased exhaust ducting and fresh air intake for storage areas without compromising other parts of the facility?
• Where can IT server rooms be located and accessed within secure perimeters?
• How can accessible toilet rooms be available for public use without compromising staff safety?

Discovery and Design

After gathering intel and returning to their drawing boards, Moseley Architects’ designers had an idea about the Henrico project—one involving hazardous materials. In the process of designing a check-in area, the architects wondered, “What if we just put the whole space under negative pressure?”

The team then added to the design three independent task exhausters that hang from the ceiling and can be pulled down to provide hyper ventilation when needed. With substances like the drug fentanyl, which can be fatal when inhaled, the measure could be lifesaving.

“We have these arms, so that if powder spills out onto the countertop or into the air, you flip these on and they provide suction,” Jay said. “That’s a new feature for us, and it’s something I wouldn’t have thought of.

“No one knows what you do better than you do, but you can gain new perspectives by collaborating with architects who truly specialize in these types of facilities, and the outcomes can be amazing.

“If your department gives you the opportunity to work with designers on a project like this, you owe it to yourself to do it,” he advised.