“It’s going to be a huge morale booster for our staff. We’re running out of space...we’re definitely looking for more area for us to grow and expand in. The facility was created with the next 30 to 40 years in mind. Whatever happens, the facility is designed to take on those challenges.”

— Dustin Dassinger, Chief of Police

The City of Dickinson approached Roth Sheppard in hopes of planning and designing an iconic public safety building to serve their community. The driver for the Dickinson Public Safety Center was the City’s need for a combined fire and police facility in a location where access to service areas were optimal for both departments. Conceptually, the Public Safety Center provides the City of Dickinson with a ‘beacon of safety’ - a building that is relevant and efficient and will serve the city far into the future. The building houses the Dickinson Police and Fire Departments, as well as administrative functions and a mission critical 911 emergency communications center.

With user groups actively engaged in the process, the building was designed from the inside out. The facility is a fusion of efficiency, humility, and context. Design inspiration was derived from both the site and the Native American history in the Dickinson area. The site, adjacent to a stream and wetlands, is reminiscent of a Mandan village, in which the dwellings are on the hillside over a river, guarded by a semi-circular fence. From a distance, the facility glows into the surrounding landscape -- a constant symbol of the protection provided to the community.