WESTFIELD, Ind.—The Hoosier State is moving ahead with a major public-safety investment as construction begins on a new $35 million police headquarters designed by Dewberry. The project in Westfield, Ind., broke ground recently after years of planning; it is intended to accommodate the city’s rapid growth and provide modernized facilities that the existing combined Public Safety Building can no longer support.
Envisioned as a purpose-built, future-ready complex, the new headquarters will occupy an 11.7-acre site along Grand Park Boulevard just north of 181st Street—an area chosen for its strategic proximity to Westfield High School, Grand Park, and several high-traffic commercial corridors. City officials say the location will enhance response times while also providing greater visibility and community access.
The roughly 50,000-square-foot initial buildout is being designed with the ability to expand to as much as 80,000 square feet over the next 15 to 20 years. Plans also allow for a potential 30,000-square-foot addition, ensuring capacity for long-term population growth and increasing service demands on the department. The building will also house the city’s Informatics Department, consolidating technology and data operations under one roof.
Dewberry’s design reflects a shift in contemporary policing architecture, emphasizing transparency, officer wellbeing, and community engagement. Early design goals include the use of natural materials, energy-efficient systems, and discreetly integrated security features that meet post-9/11 standards. The building program includes collaborative workspaces, wellness and decompression areas for officers, a fortified emergency operations room, and a dedicated community training/event space. City leaders have also endorsed creating a memorial art installation honoring fallen officers.
The project is being delivered through a public-private partnership using a build-operate-transfer model, with Garmong as developer, Skender as construction manager, and Veridus Group serving as the city’s owner’s representative. Officials say the partnership approach offers cost efficiencies and risk-sharing advantages compared with traditional municipal delivery. Renovating the existing Public Safety Building—shared with the fire department—would have cost nearly as much as the new facility while still falling short of operational and security needs, according to city analyses.
Completion is targeted for 2027; once open, the new headquarters is expected to serve as a central hub for Westfield’s police services for decades to come, supporting both current operations and the city’s continued transformation into one of Indiana’s fastest-growing communities.
