The new Hollenbeck Community Police Station, LA’s largest police facility, provides the city with a memorable landmark that celebrates green building. The building’s high design principals have a practical application, showing an open face to the community while providing a level of sustainable building practices that earned the project a LEED Gold certification in addition to multiple awards. Architects AC Martin achieved all of this while providing a secure work place for LA’s finest.

The striking exterior entrance addresses multiple needs at once. The station needed to provide a community presence, so the architects designed an illuminated and welcoming façade that represents the station as a positive and approachable organization. The translucent panels allow plenty of daylight into the building without the accompanying heat buildup — thus saving a tremendous amount of energy. The façade is also bullet proof, a necessary requirement in many of today’s public buildings, especially law enforcement facilities.