Detention facilities are, by and large, the only buildings designed and constructed to keep people housed with no access to the outside. Totally enclosed structures with permanent residents and providing all the amenities required of a small community, these buildings present unique challenges to design professionals that are far beyond that of standard buildings. All functions required to keep a small town supported are necessary: medical clinics, kitchens, classrooms, living quarters, laundry facilities, and maintenance / repair facilities. Space is always tight, security is of prime concern, and livability must be maintained. All mechanical and electrical systems must be secure, hidden, and easy to maintain.

Balzhiser & Hubbard Engineers has provided mechanical and electrical design for numerous detention facilities, each unique and providing challenges. Working side-by-side with architects and community leaders, we have successfully completed design for juvenile detention facilities, city jails, county jails, and upgrades of prisons.

Here are three project examples: