JonesDBR partnered with RDLR Architects to provide mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering services for the new Public Safety Careers facility at the College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas. Developed to support the college’s Fire Protection Technology, Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice programs, the expansion enhances opportunities for experiential learning and workforce development through state-of-the-art training spaces.
The comprehensive training complex includes a 33,000-square-foot academic building dedicated to classroom instruction, simulation-based learning, and collaborative education. It also features a 26,000-square-foot firing range and emergency vehicle garage; a 2,500-square-foot training tower; and a 2,700-square-foot Class A burn building. Designed in accordance with the campus master plan, the facility significantly expands program capacity while providing realistic training environments equipped with industry-standard technologies and equipment that prepare students for the demands of public service careers.
Beyond its educational mission, the facility serves as a valuable regional resource. In addition to hosting firearm safety courses for the public, the complex provides training space for local and regional law enforcement agencies. The campus will also become home to the Galveston County Law Enforcement Academy, which offers a peace officer training program and further strengthens the college’s role in supporting public safety across the region.
JonesDBR designed a new central plant that serves both primary buildings through a campus-wide hydronic distribution system. Two air-cooled chillers with primary-secondary pumping distribute chilled water to air handling units throughout the facility, while fan-powered terminal units provide zone-level comfort control within occupied spaces. The emergency vehicle garage is conditioned with high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans and strategically located unit heaters to maintain year-round functionality.
Specialized systems were also incorporated to support the complex’s hands-on training environments. Within the firing range, two pulse-jet dust collection systems remove airborne gunpowder residue and smoke to help maintain a safe and controlled training setting. Compressed air systems serve both the firing range and vehicle garage, supporting vehicle maintenance operations, firearm cleaning, and dust collection equipment.
The plumbing design includes new domestic water and fire protection systems that serve both primary buildings, along with electric water heaters to meet domestic hot water demands. Trench drains and a sand-oil separator were incorporated within the emergency vehicle garage to accommodate vehicle wash-down and maintenance activities.
This project represents a significant investment in the future of public safety education, providing students with immersive, hands-on training environment that closely mirror real-world conditions while also serving the broader community.
