Who is interested in designing Oklahoma County's new jail? Here's what we know

Jack Money, Oklahoman
·4 min read
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Architects and designers from all over are interested in designing Oklahoma County's new jail and health center.

Oklahoma County Commissioners were told Monday four firms submitted offers to work on the project.

The offers will be evaluated by county staff and by members of the Oklahoma County Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board.

What firms submitted offers to design the new Oklahoma County jail?

STV

  • Company headquarters: New York City.

  • Company history: STV traces its roots back to 1912, when Elwyn E. Seelye, a structural engineering company, was founded in New York City

  • What it does: Plans, designs and manages infrastructure projects across North America.

  • Related project: The Worcester County Jail Medical and Intake Facility at the county's jail and house of corrections in West Boylston, Massachusetts. STV says the chosen design, one of four it developed through working with the sheriff, provides space for 28 detainees plus another 26 detainees requiring medical housing and allows for intake a processing services for about 60 detainees daily.

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A person enters the meeting chambers of the Oklahoma Board of County Commissioners.
A person enters the meeting chambers of the Oklahoma Board of County Commissioners.

HOK

  • Company headquarters: St. Louis

  • Company history: The company was founded by George Hellmuth, Gyo Obata and George Kassabaum in 1955.

  • What it does: HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm that employs 1,600 people collaborating across a network of 25 offices on three continents.

  • Related project: The Davidson County Metro Criminal Justice Center in Nashville, Tennessee, which houses the county sheriff's staff and up to 1,000 inmates. HOK states its design for the 405,000 square foot building incorporates a mission-driven approach to detention, diversion and treatment by including a state-ot-the-art medical clinic with exam, procedure, observation and negative-pressure isolation rooms, a fully equipped dialysis center and a dental operation, plus a 64-bed unit for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.

Strollo Architects

  • Company headquarters: Orlando, Florida

  • Company history: Founded in 1956, Strollo has designed more than 4,500 projects approaching 25 million square feet and valued at over $2.5 billion.

  • What it does: Strollo's website states more than 90% of its projects have been designed for clients with fiduciary responsibilities like public boards, trusts and municipalities. Nearly 65% of its design work has involved health care facilities during the past several years.

  • Related project: Strollo has designed at least two dozen correctional related projects, from converting a university hospital in Pensacola, Florida, into a detention facility that includes a medical/mental health facility to building a maximum-security, zero-movement, 432-cell jail in Youngstown, Ohio, that includes a 14-cell medical unit.

Possible Oklahoma County jail locations: What we know about properties offered to become new home of Oklahoma County jail

Richard R. Brown Associates PC

  • Company headquarters: Oklahoma City

  • Company history: Established in 1985 as a full service, architectural, interior design and planning practice that's done projects across the United States and Mexico.

  • What it does: Corporate and governmental workspaces, hospitality projects, medical facilities, retail/lifestyle centers, high technology and multi-family living environments.

  • Relevant project: RBA's portfolio on its website shows that it has designed budget and high-end hotels, corporate headquarters and some urban housing projects.

What happens now?

Oklahoma County's purchasing office is reviewing the submissions to evaluate the firms before interview invitations are sent. Submissions also were sent to members of the Oklahoma County Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board for their review.

Oklahoma County Commissioners listen Monday to a presentation made during their meeting.
Oklahoma County Commissioners listen Monday to a presentation made during their meeting.

Commission releases more ARPA funds to improve public buildings

Oklahoma County commissioners on Monday also voted to authorize spending about $11.4 million of funds it received through the American Rescue Plan Act to make improvements to various buildings owned by the county.

Authorized allocations included:

  • $6.096 million for a new emergency operations center in the Krowse Building, 2100 NE 37.

  • $1.6 million for a full elevator replacement in the Investors Capital Building, 217 N Harvey.

  • $1.6 million for a full elevator replacement in the Metro 1 Parking Garage, 321 Robert S Kerr.

  • $1.6 million for a full elevator replacement in the Metro 2 Parking Garage, 321 Robert S Kerr.

  • $500,678 to upgrade camera systems operated by the Oklahoma County sheriff's office in county-owned buildings.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County jail design project draws local, international interest