Location: Sedan, Kansas
Year Completed: 2012
Size: 12,257 SF | 20-Beds
Awards and Publications: Design Cost Data Magazine – September/October 2012 Edition

HMN Architects teamed with Chautauqua County on their jail and sheriff’s office. For this project, HMN provided pre-bond services. There was opposition to the project, but the team gave presentations and provided materials to aid in the eventual passing of the vote 3:1.

The new jail uses an indirect supervision style. The team incorporated good sightlines for visual observation, which allows for a single command post to view 20 general population beds. The jail also provides two booking cells with three bunks. Housing is divided into four dayrooms, which aids the jail’s ability to classify inmates.

The facility also has a drive through vehicular sallyport and multi-purpose room for the sheriff and staffs use. Central control and dispatch monitoring station are combined to support a small staff. An indoor and outdoor exercise yard, evidence storage and training room are also included in the design. The project features an administration area, which provides space for the county attorney, city police, road patrol, sheriff, undersheriff, and additional staff work areas.

The county faced budgetary and siting restrictions. The new jail was meant to fit on the courthouse square. To meet the client’s goas, the team designed a project to fit the jail’s current needs and incorporated flexibility for growth without adding square footage to the courthouse square. The final design compliments the 1930’s courthouse by using red brick and cast stone accents, along with a red standing seam roof.