IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo.—The historic mountain community of Idaho Springs is on the brink of a major milestone. Crews are putting the finishing touches on the new Idaho Springs Police Station, marking the first time in the city’s history that its police department will operate out of a standalone, purpose-built facility dedicated entirely to its operations.
Led by the Colorado team of employee-owned general contractor W.E. O’Neil Construction in partnership with design firm Dulaney Architecture, the design-build project is wrapping up its final phases. The milestone brings an end to a long-standing challenge for the municipality, which previously lacked a centralized, dedicated headquarters for its local law enforcement.
The $3 million municipal project breathes new life into a prominent downtown location at 1744 Miner Street, converting a 2,762-square-foot former bank building into a modernized, highly secure public safety hub. Through selective demolition, environmental remediation, and a carefully integrated 1,089-square-foot building addition, the completed facility spans approximately 3,851 square feet.
“The finish line is in sight, and our team is intensely focused on the final details to bring this important community project across that line,” W.E. O’Neil Construction shared in a project update.
Transforming a 2006 commercial bank branch into a high-security police hub required creative architectural and engineering solutions. Among the facility’s most notable operational features is a secure vehicle sallyport, cleverly engineered by repurposing the property’s former drive-through lanes. Additionally, the project team overhauled the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, executed critical structural enhancements, and incorporated durable interior finishes tailored to law enforcement workflows.
Externally, the design carefully respects Idaho Springs’ historic mountain-town aesthetic. Situated near City Hall in the heart of the downtown commercial district, the building features an updated exterior facade, reworked parking layouts, fresh concrete and asphalt paving, and modern landscaping designed to elevate public accessibility and visibility.
Financially, the project was made possible through strategic funding and regional partnerships. One-third of the total cost—amounting to $1 million—was secured via a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Energy Impact Assistance Fund, significantly easing the fiscal impact on the local municipality.
City leaders, police personnel, and project partners have lauded the collaborative design-build approach for keeping the fast-tracked effort on schedule. With construction nearing its conclusion, the Idaho Springs Police Department is poised to step into a facility built to support both officer safety and community engagement for decades to come.
