4. 40th NYPD Precinct, East 149th Street and St. Ann’s Avenue, Bronx

Police precincts are often overlooked in terms of design and architecture, but with the recent attention on social justice and criminal reform in the city, this project is a positive sign of things to come.

Located in the South Bronx, this new station house reinforces a commitment to serving the surrounding communities of Port Morris, Melrose, and Mott Haven while meeting the complex programmatic requirements of the New York City Police Department. The building’s unique form comprises stacked volumes that spiral around a central atrium, visually connecting interior spaces and bringing in daylight from a rooftop clerestory. The façade alternates between solid perimeter walls and glazed reentrant corners, providing security while also affording light and views.

The 40th Precinct surpasses requirements for LEED Silver certification with features such as green roofs, high-albedo surfaces, bike racks, low-energy LED fixtures, and low-flow plumbing fixtures throughout.  An exterior courtyard at the precinct’s “stress reduction room” and a basketball half-court serve to promote mental health and activity within the workplace.

The 40th Precinct in the Bronx is a project by the Department of Design and Construction, the New York Police Department, Bjarke Ingels Group and Starr Whitehouse. The 40th Precinct includes the very first community meeting room within a police facility. With a porous façade and an artwork component, this flexible multipurpose room will provide space for classes and events.