‘There was never a holistic look at the campus’: Police buildings redesign gets green light in Vernon Hills

The design of a new police campus in Vernon Hills has a green light from the village board putting a project officials agreed has been needed on track for fine tuning and approvals in advance of construction.

Vernon Hills police have been operating out of two buildings at 740 and 754 Lakeview Parkway — the original facility built in 1992 and a second office building purchased by the village in 2007.

“There was never a holistic look at the campus,” Police Chief Patrick Kreis said this week in an update to the village board.

While the buildings have been maintained and are in good shape, the facilities as a whole don’t meet the needs of the department or residents, and the village has been studying options to reconfigure the space.

Last June, FGM Architects presented options for reconfiguring the spaces in light of a pending move of dispatch services from one of the buildings to a countywide command center in Libertyville.

“Having two buildings really works against the operations of the police department both how we serve the public and how our officers operate within the campus,” Kreis said at the time.

Establishing a well defined entrance, a lobby for public visitors, improved work and training spaces and site security are among the goals.

In October, the firm was contracted for $1.72 million to design a police station with additions and renovations currently estimated at about $32.5 million.

Building a new facility would cost more than $50 million, Kreis said

FGM firm returned this week to present a conceptual design for the exterior, seeking feedback from the village board that it reflects the vision for the project.

The task presented challenges as the buildings are very different in style and appearance.

“Not only are we trying to connect the two buildings from a functional standpoint but we’re also trying to create sort of a new front-facing facade and entry piece for the entire campus,” explained Louise Gruener, vice president and design principal for FGM.

Plans call for substantial renovation of the existing buildings while utilizing parts that have been updated, including locker rooms and a cell block, Kreis said.

New construction will include a “glassy” connection between the buildings to blend function and aesthetics. Features will include an enhanced property evidence section, training spaces and a modern firing range.

“We are working hard on those components at the same time were working together with the FGM team on the design,” Kreis said.

Village trustees endorsed the project. The next step will be to secure planning and zoning approvals.

Trustee Nancy Forster said it doesn’t seem as if two buildings are being connected.

“I like the exterior look a lot,” she said. “It looks like it was built that way.”