As the hub for city maintenance, the challenge with the new Whiting Public Works Facility revolved around providing all the programmatic requirements of a public works facility on a very limited size site.   Laydown areas for materials, storage of city equipment, a garbage truck enclosure, salt shed, and a refueling station for all city vehicles from police cars to fire trucks all had to share space with the new 18,595 square foot building.

Consequently, the building, itself, also had to be planned as efficiently as possible. In addition to all the necessary equipment, it contains locker rooms, staff offices, breakroom, locker facilities, fully outfitted service bays, vehicle storage and a storage mezzanine.

For sake of economy, the building utilizes a pre-engineered structure.  This structure was enhanced aesthetically at the entry to the Public Works with masonry and a metal clad brow.  In turn, this provided the public works its own signature identity which was particularly important since the Whiting Animal Shelter is directly attached to the Public Works building and shares the same elevation.