Fast-Tracked Design: Moving the Lebanon Police Headquarters Forward in Eight Weeks
An accelerated design schedule doesn't have to mean compromising quality. For the City of Lebanon, Indiana, a collaborative approach to planning and decision-making helped advance the vision for a new Police Headquarters in just eight weeks.
Meeting the Needs of a Growing Community
As Lebanon continues to experience significant growth, the demand for public safety services is increasing. With its existing Police Headquarters no longer adequately supporting current operations or future needs, the City recognized the importance of planning a modern facility that would serve its officers and community for decades to come.
Etica Group and Dewberry were tasked with validating the facility's space program and developing a conceptual design on an expedited schedule. The challenge was to move quickly while ensuring the design reflected the department's operational needs.
Starting with Understanding
The process began with a walkthrough of the existing facility and meetings with each department to understand daily operations, identify challenges and validate the previously established space program.
With this foundation, Etica Group and Dewberry facilitated a collaborative design workshop involving representatives from the City, Police Department and design team. Together, they explored operational relationships, discussed priorities and evaluated potential layouts.
The team developed multiple space planning options for review before advancing a preferred concept. Through continued refinement and stakeholder feedback, concept drawings and an updated space program were developed, establishing the foundation for architectural renderings.
How Collaboration Accelerated the Process
Completing this work in eight weeks required more than an aggressive schedule. It required a shared commitment to keeping decisions moving forward.
Three strategies made the difference:
1. Plan Ahead to Maintain Momentum. Weekly meetings were scheduled at the project's outset, ensuring stakeholders had dedicated time for discussion and decision-making. A combination of in-person and virtual meetings provided flexibility without slowing progress.
2. Engage Decision-Makers Early. The City's willingness to participate actively and make timely decisions was essential. Having the right people involved allowed the team to address questions, evaluate options and move forward with confidence.
3. Keep the Design Team Moving Between Meetings. Internal design workshops allowed Etica Group's and Dewberry’s team to coordinate disciplines, refine concepts and prepare solutions between client meetings, making each interaction more productive.
A Thoughtful Process Delivers Results
In just eight weeks, Etica Group and Dewberry worked alongside City leadership and Police Department representatives to validate the facility program, evaluate design options and establish a coordinated conceptual design direction.
The Lebanon Police Headquarters project demonstrates that successful fast-tracked design isn't about skipping steps. It's about creating a process where the right people are involved, decisions are made at the right time and everyone is working toward a shared vision.
For Etica Group and Dewberry, that combination of thoughtful planning, collaboration and responsiveness is what makes ambitious schedules achievable.
