Rehabilitation and Renovation

LOCATION: 

Fullerton, CA

CLIENT: 

Fullerton Police Department

TIMELINE: 

In Design

Originally designed by noted architect G. Stanley Wilson and constructed between 1939 and 1942 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, the Fullerton Police Department Building stands as a defining civic landmark in the city. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building is recognized as one of Southern California’s finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival civic architecture.

This project focuses on carefully balancing historic preservation with functional modernization within an active essential services facility. Our team’s approach prioritizes maintaining the building’s historic character while introducing strategic upgrades that improve operational efficiency, durability, and long-term performance for the police department’s daily operations.

Interior improvements will be implemented within both the historic building and its later non-historic addition, with work designed to support current operational needs while respecting the architectural integrity of the original structure.

Renovations include upgrades to the jail intake and detention areas, staff facilities, investigation offices, and public lobby, as well as improvements to the patrol equipment room to enhance organization and operational workflow.

In parallel with the interior renovations, the project includes targeted restoration of the building’s iconic sunken courtyard, a distinctive feature of the historic complex. Work will address deferred maintenance to historic tile, stairs, railings, and terraced planter boxes, while preparing the historic fountain to serve as the setting for a future memorial sculpture.

All work will be guided by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, ensuring that improvements remain sensitive to the building’s historic fabric. The project is supported by a multidisciplinary consultant team including structural and MEP engineers, a landscape architect specializing in historic landscapes, and a cost estimator, helping deliver resilient, cost-effective solutions appropriate for an essential services facility.

Through this thoughtful approach, the project will preserve an important civic landmark while ensuring the Fullerton Police Department Building continues to serve the community safely and effectively for decades to come.