As State legislatures continue to meet and debate budget appropriations for the 2023 spending year, high on the list of critical agenda items are correctional facilities. In some areas, this means adequate staffing and operational programming. In others, it’s time to look at the facilities themselves and determine if renovations to existing structures, or new construction, offer the right path forward.
Designing correctional facilities requires careful consideration of a range of factors, from safety and security (priority #1) to operational efficiency and sustainability. The design team plays a crucial role in this process, as they are responsible for implementing systems to keep these facilities running smoothly.
In this edition of Plains Talk, we will explore some of the key design considerations for correctional facilities from a mechanical and electrical engineering perspective. Some are obvious (emergency power, video surveillance, gates), while others come from years of experience and understanding of the end users.