Police Department Locks Up Energy-Efficient Foundation in New Facility

More than 50 years old, the current Vineland, N.J. Police Department building includes obsolete heat and air conditioning, lacks the necessary space to effectively manage growth, and has an inefficient basement area. A new facility, scheduled for completion in early 2019, should resolve these issues.

“From the ground up this building is being created the right way,” says Vincent A. Myers, AIA and principal of DI Group Architecture. “The new two-story police department starts with energy-efficient Superior Walls® XiTM Wall panels. These are very ‘green’ products that were created locally in Millville, N.J. in a controlled environment.

“The uniformity, structural strength and consistency of the precast concrete panels are all features that will serve this project well.”

Myers and his team, located in New Brunswick, N.J., designed the 52,697-square-foot structure that will be located on the corner of East Plum and North 6th Streets, directly across from the existing police station.

“The old station will be razed and the site repurposed,” says Myers. “We’ve worked with the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, the City of Vineland and the Vineland Police Department to create an inviting, aesthetically pleasing facility that fits in with the scale of adjacent structures. This new building delivers the functional needs of a police department to protect and serve the community.”

Saving on Construction Time
At the ground breaking in January of 2018, Vineland Mayor Anthony Fanucci praised the state-of-the-art facility planned for his city. The team at RPM Engineering LLC, out of Woodbury, N.J., served as the structural engineer on the project working with DI Group Architecture.

“Normal cast concrete walls are labor intensive and have a cure time of 28 days,” says Neil Ambrus, a professional engineer with RPM Engineering LLC. “The Superior Walls precast panels are erected in just one day, saving us a month of time.”

Ambrus points out that the process of pouring vertical cast-in-place walls requires vibration of the concrete to remove air pockets. If the concrete is not properly vibrated, voids or honeycombing may occur in the concrete. That problem can cause weak spots in walls.

“The Superior Walls precast concrete panels are poured in a controlled environment and eliminates these concerns,” says Ambrus. “They’re providing reliable, expedited construction time.”