Our design for Fort Worth’s Northwest Patrol Substation draws inspiration from the city’s frontier heritage and the architectural legacy of the Stockyards.
The design team explored multiple conceptual schemes early in the process—all focused on redefining the relationship between the police and the public. “The Porch,” which was ultimately selected, expressed the clearest architectural gesture of welcome and approachability.
The building’s stepped massing addresses the site’s dramatic grade change while connecting to the civic traditions of Fort Worth, especially its porch-lined historic districts. Simple parallel stone walls form a processional rhythm down the slope, terminating at the community room and anchoring a large public art piece.
The light-filled lobby features durable materials and clear wayfinding, offering a welcoming experience for both staff and visitors while ensuring controlled access between public and secure areas.
The building is organized around the day-to-day needs of patrol officers, supporting their work with purpose-built spaces, tailored to their operational needs. Wellness also played a central role, with daylight brought into nearly every occupied space—an enormous improvement from the previous windowless facilities. Secure, functional, and flexible, the building also includes decontamination areas and quiet rooms to support officer mental health.