The 10,000-square-foot Public Safety Building at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah officially opened on August 14. It houses the WSU Police Department and Parking Services. The building is equipped to handle routine public safety but designed to convert to the Emergency Operations Center in a campus emergency.

Two high-tech dispatch consoles will now facilitate more efficient and 911 emergency service response. A new “Smart Wall” system will allow campus police to view numerous security cameras located around campus. “The public safety building on the front porch of the university demonstrates the institution’s commitment to public safety,” said University Police Chief Dane LeBlanc.

High windows and skylights throughout the lobby and interior offices deliver natural light. A large array of solar panels on the roof provides a significant amount of the building’s electricity. A large generator will provide power in case of an electrical outage.

The campus community will find the location convenient for issues related to parking. As part of the project, a new 98-stall W-10 parking lot just east of the Public Safety Building will open for fall semester.