Leopardo Project Wins APWA Public Works Project of the Year Award

The Leopardo-built Will County Public Safety Complex was honored at the American Public Works Association (APWA) awards banquet on January 9, winning Public Works Project of the Year for structures between $25 and $74 million. The banquet was held at the Patrick Haley Mansion in Joliet.

Built in 1973, the original Will County sheriff’s facility was unable to accommodate the county’s rapid growth in recent years. As a result, the staff relocated to six different facilities. The new 85,000-square-foot, two-story Will County Public Safety Complex brings multiple departments back under one roof and includes a 911 police and fire dispatch center serving 31 communities.

It is comprised of a sheriff’s department with administrative offices, an emergency telephone system board (ETSB) and a dispatch center, as well as a holding area, enclosed sally port, training facilities, evidence processing and storage, vehicle processing, multipurpose meeting rooms and locker rooms.

Leopardo served as construction manager, providing preconstruction and construction services, in collaboration with architect DLR Group to complete the project in early 2018.

The Chicago Metro Chapter of the APWA includes five branches and offers members everything from educational opportunities and networking to scholarships. Its annual awards program promotes excellence by recognizing projects that have a profound impact on the community and demonstrate creativity, ingenuity and efficient delivery.