BSO Research,
Development &
Training
Center

Client
Broward County Sheriff's Office
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Completion date
April 2022

An efficient, sustainable, state-of-the-art urban training facility for Florida's largest department. 

The Broward County Sheriff's Office is the largest in the state with over 5,000 employees. This new training center will be home to offices, classrooms, wellness support spaces and training labs for Sheriff, EMS and Fire personnel. What sets it apart is its wealth of practical training facilities including 25- and 50-yard tactical ranges accessible by response vehicles, a simunitions shoot house and a 72-foot-tall rappel tower for fire and SWAT training operations. Situated on a compact site, the building optimizes training efficiencies throughout the four-story design, carefully considering the unique needs of each space. 

Classrooms and offices must be free of noise and distractions from the range and vehicle areas, labs must be adaptable to the changing needs of each department, and flexible space was allocated to allow for future growth. The facility and 675-space secure parking garage is built to withstand hurricane-force storms and shelter people and equipment in the event of severe weather. In the lobby, staff and visitors pass through a memorial to the victims of the tragic shooting at nearby Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2019, providing a space for remembrance and contemplation of the responsibility of public safety personnel to serve their community.

A rendering of a meeting room at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Training Center
A rendering of a classroom at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Training Center
The gun range allows flexible operations, including the use of vehicles and props inside the range for simulating real-life situations
A rendering of the gun range at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Training Center