C/S Broward, in partnership with Arrington Watkins Architects, successfully delivered two new essential facilities for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office through a design-build contract. Located on the active South Placer County Jail campus, this project expanded the County’s ability to provide secure mental health care and in-custody vocational training services. Each building was purpose-built to support long-term rehabilitation, treatment, and operational efficiency within a highly secure environment.

Vocational Training Building: The 39,427-square-foot medium-security vocational training facility includes 120 detention beds and five fully outfitted vocational shops, each with secure storage and laundry amenities. Four shops open to a covered loading area to support hands-on programming and workforce-readiness training. Each housing unit includes its own secure outdoor exercise yard and a screening room for medical and mental health assessments. Control rooms are strategically placed to oversee two housing units at a time.

The facility also includes office space for vocational instructors and sworn staff, along with a dedicated multi-use room for staff gatherings and in-custody graduation ceremonies. Designed with safety and rehabilitation in mind, the building incorporates a safe dispersal area located at least 50 feet from the structure, in compliance with emergency response protocols.

Mental Health Building: The Placer County Mental Health High Security Facility is a 16,272-square-foot, 45-bed secure facility designed to provide specialty psychiatric care. The building includes three 15-bed housing units, one of which (Unit H) functions as an acute care unit.

Secure, fully roofed and sprinklered outdoor exercise areas are connected to each housing unit. Each dayroom features operable skylights tied to the fire alarm system to allow smoke evacuation and includes direct exterior exits for enhanced emergency egress. An elevated, 24/7 officer station provides continuous visual oversight. Supporting spaces such as a multi-purpose room, staff offices, break area, and utility rooms are all accessible from exterior corridors to minimize disruption to patient areas.

The project overcame permitting delays from the State Fire Marshal and design changes required by the Board of State and Community Corrections. Through proactive coordination, the team maintained schedule and budget, delivering a secure, modern facility that enhances the County’s ability to meet the mental health needs of its in-custody population.