Peterborough Police Stations Undergo Major Renovations to Enhance Services and Reduce Emissions

📅 3 weeks ago

Two police facilities in Peterborough, Ontario are being renovated to improve services and significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions.

In Peterborough, Ontario, two police buildings from the 1960s are undergoing significant renovations aimed at enhancing police services while also making strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The first is the downtown police headquarters, located at 500 Water St., which has functioned as a police station since its opening in 1968. Over the years, the City of Peterborough has maintained the facility, but recent developments have necessitated an upgrade. In 2023, the city acquired a second police facility at 1421 Lansdowne St. W. for $15.5 million. This building, previously a Pentecostal church and originally constructed in 1964 as a medical sutures manufacturing plant, will also be extensively renovated to support the police service's operations.
The decision to purchase the Lansdowne St. property and renovate both facilities arises from several pressing factors. The police service has outgrown its current headquarters, and updates to the Community and Policing Act of 2019 introduce new requirements that the existing infrastructure cannot meet. Additionally, the Ontario Building Code (OBC) mandates have prompted the need for renovations to address safety and accessibility issues. Chief Stu Betts highlighted the challenges faced at the Water Street station, noting that overcrowding has forced officers to work in hallways and store essential police notebooks on the rooftop due to space constraints.
The renovations are being managed by Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd. from Kingston, who will oversee the design and contract administration for both locations. Matheson Constructors Inc. has been contracted to carry out the construction work. A notable flooding incident in the parking garage of the Water Street site due to storms further underscored the urgent need for improvements.
The overall budget for the renovation project has escalated to $91.9 million, a significant increase from the initial estimate of $66.5 million. This rise in costs is attributed to expanded space requirements mandated by the OBC, necessary upgrades to the parking facilities, and the integration of energy efficiency measures. The renovations aim to achieve an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at the Lansdowne St. facility. To facilitate this, the project includes the installation of new continuous exterior insulation and cladding, enhanced roofing systems, and high-performance windows.
The efficiency upgrades are designed to reduce the size of mechanical systems needed, with a focus on electrification to lessen reliance on fossil fuels. Additional features such as new LED lighting fixtures, low-flow plumbing, and building automation systems will contribute to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and power consumption. Once renovations at the Lansdowne facility are completed, attention will turn to the Water St. station, where initial work will involve demolishing the existing parking structure and constructing a new one alongside an eastward addition to the building.
The Water St. station renovations aim for a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the city’s climate action goals. Recent upgrades to the mechanical systems, roof, and windows of the Water Street facility are intended to improve thermal performance and air-tightness. Throughout the renovation process, the downtown police presence will be maintained, although some frontline investigative services may be temporarily relocated. The completion of this extensive renovation project is expected by 2028.

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