Innovative Crime Monitoring: Redefining Space for Detroit’s Real-Time Crime Center

The City of Detroit Police and Roads Department worked with PARTNERS in Architecture, through the Detroit Building Authority, to design and engineer the innovative Real Time Crime Center as part of the “Green Light Project.” This ambitious initiative involved repurposing existing space within the Detroit Police Headquarters to create a cutting-edge facility focused on real-time crime monitoring and response coordination. Delivered as a Design-Build, Guaranteed Maximum Price GMP project, the work had to meet an extremely tight budget and timeline while achieving specific program objectives.

The renovations required significant structural modifications, including the removal of existing columns within the multi-story building to create clear span spaces with open sightlines. These changes were crucial for the functionality of the facility, which relies on uninterrupted views for data monitoring and decision-making. PARTNERS developed creative re-structuring solutions to ensure the building’s integrity while achieving the desired layout.

The Real Time Crime Center’s success led to an expansion that included the Roads Department Traffic Operations Center (TOC) and additional office space. The TOC enhances Detroit’s infrastructure management by providing real-time data and coordination for road operations, complementing the crime monitoring capabilities of the original facility.

This project showcases PARTNERS’ ability to deliver complex, high-pressure projects that meet stringent requirements. The result is a highly functional, innovative space that supports the City of Detroit’s efforts to enhance public safety and urban management, further solidifying the success of the Green Light Project.