Jail & Sheriff’s Office

HMN Architects partnered with Chautauqua County to design a new jail and sheriff’s office, providing pre-bond services for the project. Despite initial opposition, the team supported the effort through public presentations and informational materials, contributing to voter approval by a 3:1 margin.

The facility features an indirect supervision model with clear sightlines that allow a single command post to monitor 20 general population beds. Housing is organized into four dayrooms to support inmate classification, and the jail includes two booking cells with three bunks each. Additional features include a vehicular sallyport, combined central control and dispatch, indoor and outdoor exercise yards, evidence storage, training space, and a multi-purpose room.

Designed to fit within the courthouse square, the project addressed budget and site constraints while allowing flexibility for future growth. The final design complements the adjacent 1930s courthouse with red brick, cast stone accents, and a red standing-seam roof.