New type of program, new type of building

It's a new kind of building, and it required a different approach.

The Albuquerque Community Safety's first headquarters won a Merit Award in the 2024 NAIOP Awards of Excellence in the civic/public category.

ACS is new model of emergency response, and the city has aimed to be a pioneer in the new approach. It operates separately from the Albuquerque Police Department and Albuquerque Fire Rescue. The goal of the program is to send professionals with mental and behavioral health and social services backgrounds to non-violent and non-medical calls for service.

ACS began operations in 2021 but this year marked the first time it had its own headquarters, which is at 1210 San Mateo SE in the heart of the International District.

Ketan Bharatiya, a principal architect at Hartman+Majewski Design Group, which designed the building, said the work ACS does in the community required a different approach to designing the building.

"They wanted this unique vision for this project, which is a first of its kind," he said "The ACS is a very unique program. This was going to be their first headquarters building, so they wanted to be in an area where they felt close to the community. That's why the city chose a site in the International District."

The goal was to strike a balance between creating a facility that is both secure and welcoming.

"They wanted a building that was inviting to the public, and to create a healing environment and at the same time create a very safe and secure healing environment," Bharatiya said.

Those strategies included creating a plaza at the center of the compound so that the staff has a relaxing place to have lunch outside and see the Sandia Mountains. There are no fences around the building, but there are fences around the staff parking lot.

The Hartman+Majewski spent time understanding the role of an ACS professional in the community while creating the design.

"We interviewed their staff (to understand) how they work, their approach and philosophy to what they do," Bharatiya said. "They don't want to be disconnected from the community."