Will County Public Safety Complex Wins National Award

The Will County Public Safety Complex was named 2018 “Project of the Year” by the American Public Works Association Southwest branch. The awards ceremony was held at the Patrick Haley Mansion in Joliet.

The 85,000 square foot facility received the award in the $25-$75 million structure category.

“We are extremely gratified and humbled by this prestigious award for our new Public Safety Complex,” said Denise Winfrey, Speaker of the Will County Board. “From design conception and first spade in the ground until completion late last year, every detail of our new Sheriff’s Office, 911 Dispatch Center and Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) was given meticulous attention and today that hard work paid off with this award.”

The new state-of-the-art complex was previously presented with an award from ComEd due to the facility’s energy efficiency. In addition to its groundbreaking technology and security systems, the complex also contains space for evidence storage and brings together 31 communities in the area through the ETSB systems.

“Will County’s new Public Safety Facility is a home run on multiple fronts,” said Herb Brooks (D-Joliet), Chairman of the Capital Improvements Committee which oversaw construction of the new building. “Our Sheriff has the best tools available in law enforcement to protect our citizens and our county has top flight communications to ensure better safety of the public.”

According to Capital Improvements Committee member and former committee Chair Ray Tuminello (R-New Lenox), building the complex was a $29.5 million project, which took several years and much dedicated hard work. The project was completed in late 2017, ahead of the projected Spring 2018 schedule and below the budget.

With this win, the complex can now move on to the next phase of the competition.

The new complex is located at Laraway Rd and Route 52 in Joliet, which was the location for the old sheriff’s office built in 1973 and demolished prior to the building of the new facility. Last June, county official came together to dedicate the facility.

Image via John Ferak/Patch Editor