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1. How did you choose the exterior design of the building?

The exterior design of this building has evolved over the year. The current design is based on the input from the public, the design team, and the location where it will reside.  The Town of Hingham is making an effort for all buildings and developments in Historic Hingham Shipyard, pictured below in the 1940s, to have a continued representation of this area, to celebrate and remember its historic contribution. We believe the current proposed exterior design meets these goals.

2. Where is the proposed Hingham Public Safety Facility Building site?

The proposed site is at 335 Lincoln Street (Rte. 3A), which is a 3.07 acre site within the former historic Hingham Shipyard. At the June 2020 Annual Town Meeting, the Town approved Articles 12 & 13 to establish a Public Safety Building Committee (PSBC) and tasked it to determine the feasibility of this location to support a building that could jointly support the needs of a Police Headquarters  and a new Fire Station to replace the fire station presently located on North Street.  After a number of public meetings, and after consultation with and extensive studies by  Kaestle Boos Associates (KBA), an architectural firm with considerable experience designing Public Safety facilities, the PSBC unanimously voted that the Town purchase the site.

3. Why do we need to build a new Public Safety Facility?

Since 2015 the Town of Hingham has recognized that Station 2, North Fire Station, has long since reached its usable life.  First opened in 1942, the 4,813 sq. ft. space is no longer suitable to meet the HFD’s needs, despite modest renovations over the years.  Additionally, it lacks the size to meet and address Hingham's emergency response needs going forward.  In 2020, a review of the current 17,700 sq. ft. Police Headquarters likewise confirmed numerous deficiencies, i.e., inadequate entry area, lack of sufficient meeting rooms, inadequate training spaces,  inability to accommodate the needs of female and male officers, insufficient space for records and storage and inadequate traffic circulation, to name only a few. Simply stated it would not be possible to renovate the existing Police Headquarters within the limited space allotted to the HPD at Town Hall.

4. What is the expected construction timeline?

The Schematic Design and Design Development Phases of the Project have now been completed, and the Construction Documents are being prepared.  If there is a successful vote to fund construction of the project at a Special Town Meeting in November 2022, Hingham expects to be ready to receive construction bids in December 2022. The Town could commence construction in the Spring of 2023. It is anticipated that construction would take approximately 18 months, with an opening of the New Public Safety Facility in the Fall of 2024.

5. What are the sustainability goals for the project?

A sustainability goal of Net Zero or Net Zero Ready is being planned. Mechanical systems designed for the new station are being evaluated in order to assess initial and life-cycle costs and sustainability. The design team plans to use the latest proven technology where available, in order to achieve energy efficiency and the use of “green” energy sources, where feasible. The design provides that the heat/light/power needs for approximately  93% of the square footage of the Building will be provided  by electricity that will be generated by renewable energy sources. The current plans also provide that large areas on the roof and parking deck will be built to be “solar ready”  for the subsequent installation of a large array of solar panels.

 

6. Have any cost cutting measures been taken so far during the design phase?

The initial Feasibility Study prepared by KBA and approved by the Town, determined that the site at 335 Lincoln Street could accommodate a 58,000 s.f. building. The goal of the PSBC was to design a building that would meet the Police & Fire Department’s current needs  and  allow for a 50 year growth projection. Considerable efforts have been made at  public hearings and smaller working group sessions to “Right Size” the building.  As a result, the original Schematic Design called for a Building that would be approximately 56,525 s.f.  The PSBC worked with KBA, the HFD and HPD to develop a more efficient design without compromising the needs of the Departments, resulting in a 13% reduction in the s.f. of the Building to the currently approved  48,290 s.f.   A redesign of the gable roof to a low slope roof has also resulted in substantial cost savings. The PSBC will continue to focus on Value Engineering revisions  and reductions in Contingency & Escalation factors, as the design proceeds.

7. How many garage bays will there be?

There are two (2) drive through Sally Ports for the Police. The apparatus bay has five (5) doors for the fire department’s fire apparatus and ambulances.

8. What will the exterior design look like(3 pictures)?

The Building will be 3 stories high. Due to the slope of the site, the Building will appear to be 2 stories high along Lincoln St (Rte. 3A), with the Fire Apparatus bays on the left and the HPD space on the right.   Viewing the Building from the north side of the site ( Essington Drive), the building will appear as a 3 story building, with the General Public Lobby entrance in the center of the building.

9. What happens if the project is not approved?

The Town owns the site at 335 Lincoln Street. The current Police Headquarters will continue to be grossly inadequate to service the Town of Hingham.  North Fire Station will continue to be grossly inadequate to service the Town and it will continue to degrade. It is also important to note that the overall plan provides that the Hingham Senior Center, located in Town Hall, will be able to use the space that the HPD will vacate, when it moves into the New Public Safety Facility. That will considerably increase the amount of space and the type of programs the Senior Center currently offers to the Town’s senior citizens.  If the Project is not approved, the plans to expand the Senior Center will be indefinitely delayed.

10. Will the fire apparatus be able to navigate the Lincoln street safely?

Yes. HFD fire apparatus and ambulances frequently travel up and down Lincoln Street. A traffic study has been conducted as part of the design.  Safe access and egress of fire trucks and ambulances to and from the site has been factored into the design.  Additional signaling will be installed along Lincoln Street (Rte. 3A) as part of the Project, to control vehicle traffic to allow fire trucks and ambulances to enter Lincoln Street.

11. Will we have to buy new fire trucks for this new station?

No. Existing fire trucks will be repositioned to this new station.

12. Will we have to hire more firefighters to staff the new station?

No. Existing fire personnel will be reassigned from other stations to staff the new station. The Fire Department has expressed a need to increase staffing,  but it will not be necessary to hire more firefighters to staff the new station that will replace North Fire Station. 

13. How may I find answers to additional questions that were not answered here?

If you have any questions or comments, please email PSFBC@hingham-ma.gov.