Spring Hill, Tennessee, has a new 60,000-square-foot police headquarters. Since 2012, the Spring Hill Police Department has been operating in two locations.
“The design of the new headquarters consolidated operations while achieving several key objectives: engaging the community, fostering collaboration, providing dedicated training facilities, and accommodating long-term staffing growth,” says Lori Smith, AIA, Associate Principal at TMP Partners.
Glazing on this project
The Spring Hill Police Headquarters project incorporated more than 10 types of glazing, including fire-rated, detention, ballistic, blast-resistant, and wind and impact-resistant categories.
“These specialized glazing solutions were meticulously selected to ensure the safety and protection of every officer serving this community,” says Smith. “It was imperative that all five types of exterior glazing maintained a uniform appearance. U.S. Bullet Proofing (USBP) was instrumental in achieving this seamless design integration.”
Smith adds that the training room, which also functions as the emergency operations center, is constructed to withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour and serves as a storm shelter for the city.
Security remained a top priority in creating the new police headquarters, with Alexander Metals Inc. serving as the glazing contractor responsible for executing some of the project’s protective elements. “This is probably one of the most advanced facilities we’ve worked on,” says Wesley V. Rozzell, Vice President of Alexander Metals, Inc.
“We had a major scope of work as far as a glass and glazing skin package of the job,” Rozzell explains. “Alexander Metals, Inc. installed all the traditional and security-rated thermally broken curtain walls, storefront systems, double entrance door sets, as well as FEMA 361 tornado and fire-rated systems.”
He adds that the project’s complexity demanded close coordination. “The technical experience of dealing with U.S. Bullet Proofing really helped through the process,” Rozzell says. “There was a lot of coordination between general contractor Hensel Phelps, U.S. Bullet Proofing, and Alexander Metals Inc. to make sure we released sizing correctly. A lot of front-end work was put in between the suppliers, vendors, the glazing contractor, and other trade field contractors. Everyone had open communication and collaborated on the logistics of how everything was going to be delivered to the site.”
“Our superintendent on the job commented how assembly and installation were no problem. The USBP curtain wall went in just like traditional stick-built curtain wall. Obviously, the glass was a little heavier,” Rozzell says. “We put a little extra labor into it, thinking it was more like other specialty systems that are bulkier and heavier. We approached it conservatively. But to our surprise, we found it to be more like a traditional system, and we actually saved a little time in installation.”
Matt Block, Estimating Manager at U.S. Bullet Proofing, says the company’s role extends beyond fabrication. “We support glazing contractors through the process of engineering, ordering, fabricating, installing, and maintaining highly engineered blast-resistant systems with thorough documentation.”
Block adds that USBP products exceeded the project’s anti-terrorism criteria. “The Spring Hill Police Headquarters curtain wall system meets both blast and UL 752 ballistic standards,” he says. “We were able to help with the third-party blast engineering to ensure both performance and specification compliance were never in question.”
Inside the facility, Alexander Metals, Inc. installed a security-rated transaction window and traditional interior glazing systems. “USBP was a great partner throughout. Their technical expertise, timely support, and willingness to work through hardware and fabrication challenges made a real difference. When you’re working to such exacting standards, having that level of support and open communication saves time and helps avoid costly mistakes.”
“Installation went extremely well,” says Block. “We streamlined the process for Alexander Metals Inc., delivering much of the framing pre-fabricated and eliminating extra steps. Our curtain walls are engineered to go together much like standard products, which helps installers focus on quality and efficiency.”
With its advanced safety features, community-centered design, and room for growth, the Spring Hill Police Headquarters stands as both a practical facility and a symbol of the city’s commitment to long-term public safety.
HQ details
The headquarters includes a 120-person community room designed to serve as both a neighborhood meeting space and a courtroom for the City of Spring Hill. “The design prioritizes collaboration and officer well-being through thoughtful features such as widened corridors, open-concept breakrooms, comfortable lounge areas, and designated decompression spaces,” Smith adds.
A comprehensive training suite supports both departmental and other agency use, featuring dedicated areas for physical agility, defensive tactics, a firearms training simulator, and a multipurpose training room that also functions as an emergency operations center.
According to Smith, future growth was a central consideration in the building’s design. “Expansion space has been strategically distributed throughout the facility, so each department can scale operations in place as their needs evolve. Designed for longevity, the headquarters is expected to serve the police department and community for the next 50 years.”
“The new building brings all personnel under one roof, which allows for better work efficiency and allows the department to grow in more ways than just personnel,” he says. “The new headquarters is built for safety and allows for more involvement with the community and numerous training opportunities among other agencies and the public,” says David Kloke, lieutenant of support services for SHPD.
