Waterloo Regional Police Services Central Division
A facility that builds a safe, inclusive, and healthy community
Civic & Culture
The Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) Central Division is a transformative adaptive reuse project located at 200 Frederick Street in Kitchener, Waterloo. This project revitalizes an existing provincial courthouse, a notable 1950s brutalist structure, transforming the three-storey, 87,000-square-foot building through the preservation of its form and the introduction of modern materials. The result is a contemporary, inclusive, and accessible workplace environment for officers and staff.
From the outset, WRPS established guiding principles that shaped the project’s design and implementation: community engagement, operational excellence, adaptability and flexibility, workplace quality, sustainability, and durability. These principles are reflected in a design that emphasizes community, inclusivity, and operational excellence. The facility now supports police administration and operations, including community outreach, command, patrol services, detention, evidence storage, and below-grade parking.
A central feature of the new interiors is a light-filled atrium with a prominent staircase, facilitating navigation through various program spaces, fosters visual connections, and encourages informal interactions among staff. The overall design aligns with WRPS’s vision of a safe, inclusive, and accessible civic building that promotes inter-departmental collaboration and supports staff well-being.
- Location
- Waterloo, ON
- Size
- 80,000 sq ft
- Client
- Region of Waterloo
- Collaborators
RDH
Entro
LEA Consulting
HGC Engineering
PMA Landscape Architects- DIALOG Services
Architecture
Interior Design
Structural Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Sustainability + Building Performance Consulting
The design centers around a light-filled atrium that spans all three storeys, featuring a prominent staircase. This atrium not only facilitates navigation through various program spaces but also creates visual connections across all floors and encourages casual interactions among staff.
An expansive lunchroom, lounge, and outdoor terrace are located on the second floor of the facility providing staff spaces to gather, socialize, decompress, and enjoy a secure outdoor space year-round.
Serving as a prominent civic building, the new Central Division functions as an inviting hub for the community. The main lobby offers a welcoming, accessible, and modern space that encourages interaction and engagement with officers and staff. Additionally, a large community room located directly through the lobby supports community events and large gatherings.
Inclusion and accessibility were primary design drivers. The project introduced an accessible, all-gender locker room and shower rooms. The design team collaborated closely with the client to create a new approach aligned with WRPS’s vision for supporting future growth of female and LGBTQ+ members.
The project’s materiality focuses on using walnut wood veneer as a feature element in all public spaces. This rich, timeless wood is used for the slatted wood ceiling, custom millwork, and furniture throughout the facility.
The Team
- Chief Mark Crowell“This facility offers a vital meeting space for our community partners to collaborate in building the safest and healthiest community. Today is a significant day for our police service. We are proud to open a new division in Kitchener that will serve the entire Region of Waterloo. Transitioning from a 65-year-old facility to a state-of-the-art space is remarkable. The transformation from a dark, empty building to a bright, welcoming space where people are excited to work is an incredible achievement that I want to recognize.”
Original Exterior Glazing now transformed to the Command & Superintendent Administrative Suite.
Original Courtroom now transformed into the Main Atrium.
Original front entrance now transformed to the Lobby and Community Room.