The ‘topping out’ ceremony at the site of Southampton’s cutting-edge, £30m new operational command unit (OCU) HQ takes place this afternoon, Tuesday, July 20. It's a a major milestone in the construction of one of the city’s most significant developments in recent years.
The ‘topping out’ ceremony marks the completion of the external structure of this bespoke facility, which will dramatically change the face of policing in Hampshire by allowing the Southampton OCU to centralise its operations under one roof for the first time. The new centre will replace the existing outdated station in the Civic Centre with a modern, fully equipped, purpose-built facility that draws together different departments from across the city in one central location.
Standing eight floors tall, the 8,500sq m building is a striking landmark at the gateway to the city, providing office accommodation for 500 police staff, including the crime scene investigation unit, criminal justice units, administrative areas and an impressive front reception area.
An upper ground level - built adjacent to the office tower -will house a 36-cell podium custody suite with associated amenities. These include a state of the art security system with CCTV in every cell, a charge area and related offices. On the lower ground level, space has been provided for police vehicle parking, a property store and IT hub.
The occasion will be marked with the placing of the final stone panel in the entrance area, and speeches by Chief Constable Alex Marshall, Hampshire Police Authority chair, Councillor, Jacqui Rayment and Kier Southern director Shane Mason.
Cllr Rayment said: “Although the project started before the global economic downturn, good planning has meant that the new building will increase efficient policing in Hampshire while reducing costs by centralising many policing services in one building.
“By replacing an old, out of date facility with a modern, purpose-built centre and making a major investment in policing in the city, we are providing the police with the modern and efficient facilities they need for the 21st century.”
Southampton police commander, Chief Superintendant Matthew Greening, looks forward to the opening of the new facility in the spring of 2011, commenting: "The new Southampton police station is really starting to take shape and everyone who has seen it says what an impactive and significant building it is becoming. I am pleased with the public reaction because it is, after all, a building for the people of the city.
"We are the city's police service and this is the city's new police station from which we can provide a better service and within which we can work more efficiently to help to keep the city safe.”
Kier Southern director Shane Mason added: “The new operational command unit is a significant building at the gateway to Southampton and represents what is at the heart of all the city’s recent developments – its people.
"Kier Southern is proud to be involved in the creation of a facility which will provide a modern, cutting-edge place of work for its staff and a welcoming, efficient police station for the public that it will serve.”
*Media release from Hampshire Constabualry and developers Kier Southern.
