Our corrections and justice specialists work with government, operators, architects and contractors to design contemporary correctional facilities that promote safety, rehabilitation and operational efficiency.
We achieve this by focusing on a number of overarching design principles:
Safety and security
Our primary design focus is on creating an environment that prioritises the safety of staff, inmates and visitors. This encompasses design for secure access and egress, surveillance systems and controlled movement of inmates.
We advise on fixtures and fittings appropriate to the environment and security level to mitigate the risk of self-harm as well as access to items that can be used as weapons.
Resilience
Engineering services must be resilient to withstand potential disruptions from both internal and external factors. Modern facilities are designed to operate autonomously and seamlessly during these events by incorporating standby power generation and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), water and wastewater storage, system redundancy and elimination of single points of failure.
Operational efficiency
Operators, both government and private, expect modern facilities to be cost effective and efficient to run and maintain. We take a whole-of-life approach to engineering services strategies and system selection, for example plant that’s central or distributed. This includes maintenance and plant replacement considerations in a secure environment.
Sustainability
Implementing sustainable practices can reduce energy consumption and operational costs. This may include efficient systems for waste management, water usage and energy consumption.
Integration of technology
Modern correctional facilities incorporate technology into every facet of operations, including electronic security and surveillance, delivery of inmate programs and vocational training via secure networks. Our designs ensure that facilities have the infrastructure to support changing technology needs into the future.
Human-centered design
Considering the human element is vital. This includes creating an environment that promotes rehabilitation and supports the mental wellbeing of inmates while also ensuring the safety and comfort of staff and visitors.