In May of 2017, Salem voters passed a bond measure to finance the development of a public safety facility where the Salem Police Department can conduct business efficiently and safely. The site selected for the new facility is on the corner of Commercial and Division Streets NE, formerly the location of the O’Brien Auto Group. Site demolition ended in April 2018 and construction started in the fall of 2018.

The project was completed on October 10, 2020.

Resident Input on the Project

Building Design

More than 1,400 responses were received for the police station design survey. Respondents' ideas and comments contributed to the design concepts presented at the March 21, 2018, town hall meeting. The results of the survey are available for review.

In May and June 2018, project team members visited ten Salem neighborhood associations and gathered additional citizen input on the site design and surrounding campus.

On July 25, 2018, the project design team hosted another town hall to reveal the final floor plans and campus layout. Residents provided additional input about the community space and public art for the project.

Public Art Project

As a publicly funded project, the new Salem Police Station has an art piece on the campus. The concept by artist Blessing Hancock was chosen to join the more than 150 public artworks throughout the city. Community engagement was a key feature of the art piece titled Equitas. The surface pattern of the lighted sculpture incorporates text submitted by the Salem community relating to the themes of honor, protection, and service. Residents and employees contributed their suggestions for the sculpture at public events and via an online submission form.

Project Schedule

The project schedule shows the various phases of design and construction as the multi-year venture progressed.

• February 2018 - Site and building design phase initiated.
• February 26, 2018 - Demolition and hazmat abatement started.
• April 30, 2018 - Demolition and hazmat abatement completed.
• May-August 2018 - Preparations for site construction.
• September 2018 - Archeology Day, September 10, a public event allowing residents to observe the archeological excavation on the site.
• November 2018 - November 9, the official groundbreaking ceremony.
• January 2019 - Archaeological artifacts discovered at the project site displayed at the Salem Public Library.
• January 2019 - Construction started at the end of the month.
• April 2019 - Site and building design phases completed.
• October 2020 - Construction phase completed, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony followed.
• November 2020 - Staff moved in with limited in-person services offered due to state-mandated pandemic restrictions.

Keeping the Community Informed

Ensuring the community stayed informed of the building’s progress was an essential component to the success of this public project. Information was routinely posted online and shared using social media to keep the community in the loop and involved.

#BuildingBuzz Videos

A popular social media segment titled #BuildingBuzz launched in February 2018 and featured a series of monthly video updates on all aspects of the project. Residents received regular updates about the building’s design, efficiencies, and understanding of the community’s new police station.

Project Cameras

Additionally, live web cam feeds of the building under construction (image examples below) offered residents a quick way to keep up with the project's progress.

Background

In 1972, 108 officers moved into their new offices on the first floor of Salem City Hall. More than a half-century later, the space was inadequate for the then-190 officers and 53 civilian staff.

The new facility meets current seismic standards required of a new police station to remain operable during natural disasters. The building also allows the department to function more efficiently by bringing together many important police functions that are currently located off-site in separate and leased buildings.

CBTWO Architects, a local firm, was selected as the lead architect consultant team on the project. They partnered with DLR Group, police design specialists, who have completed more than 80 justice facilities across the country.

A Salem City Council sub-committee met monthly with the core team to receive updates and provide input and guidance.

For more information about the Salem Police Department and its public safety services, visit our department home page or follow Salem Police on the standard social media channels.