Overview
The Nassau County Police Department’s 2nd Precinct Station House is located at 7700 Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury, New York, and serves multiple Nassau County communities. The original two-story, colonial-style building was constructed in the late 1960s and included a rear parking lot, a maintenance garage, and a fueling station.
On November 26, 2022, a fast-moving fire caused extensive damage to the station. Following an inspection the next day, the building was deemed unsalvageable. County officials acted quickly to commission a replacement to restore police services as soon as possible. An emergency declaration was issued to accelerate the design and construction of the new 2nd Precinct station house. The design schedule was condensed to six months, with the consultant providing full services across all disciplines, including architecture, engineering, fire protection, surveying, and environmental work.
LiRo-Hill had prior experience working with the Nassau County Department of Public Works and the Nassau County Police Department, having successfully designed three similar precinct projects for the 1st, 4th, and 8th Precincts. This proven track record gave Nassau County confidence in LiRo-Hill’s ability to take on this critical project and deliver a high-quality facility on an accelerated schedule. By mid-December, LiRo-Hill officially began design work.
About the Project
The new 2nd Precinct is a two-story, 25,000 sf building with a roof penthouse, designed to support both current and future police operations. The building is constructed with load-bearing perimeter masonry walls, interior steel framing, concrete floor slabs, and shallow foundations. The masonry walls use the Hi-R block system with built-in insulation to meet modern energy code requirements.
Project Challenges & Solutions
Maintaining momentum on the project required careful phasing and continuous coordination between the design team and in-house construction managers. Early bid packages for demolition, site work, and foundations were released in March 2023, while major mechanical equipment was procured in advance to mitigate ongoing supply chain constraints.
The overall effort demanded a high degree of technical coordination and disciplined decision-making. An accelerated design schedule allowed no margin for delays or redesign, placing added emphasis on detailed upfront planning. Tight site conditions required close collaboration among all design disciplines, while the structural system had to balance multiple demands, including thermally insulated masonry, support for a brick façade, numerous window openings, and compliance with elevated seismic load requirements.
Outcome
The 2nd Precinct Station House strengthens the Nassau County Police Department’s ability to protect and serve communities across Nassau County. The completed design delivers a welcoming and comfortable environment for both staff and visitors, while the building envelope and structural strategies established for this project provide a model that can be applied to future precinct facilities.
