CHICOPEE — Caolo & Bieniek Architects joined the communities of Taunton and Lenox at groundbreaking ceremonies for their new public-safety facilities. City officials, key stakeholders, and residents gathered to celebrate the kickoff of construction for both community projects.

It has been nearly 114 years since the city of Taunton has had a building constructed for the Police Department, and first responders have been operating out of temporary facilities for more than 50 years. This new complex, estimated to cost $50 million, will allocate 62,000 square feet to Police and Fire headquarters, 17,000 square feet to an auxiliary storage and maintenance building, and 3,000 square feet to a training facility.

The town of Lenox broke ground as well, kicking off its new public-safety complex project. With an overall budget of $25 million, this complex will house the Lenox Police, Fire, and EMS headquarters. The single-story, 21,000-square-foot facility provides much-needed space for each department’s operational needs and allows for future growth, all within a new facility designed with the architectural character of the town of Lenox.

Ashik Mubarak

CHICOPEE — Caolo & Bieniek Architects announced the promotion of Ashik Mubarak to an architectural staff position.

This promotion comes as Ashik recently graduated from UMass with a master of architecture degree, marking a significant milestone in his career journey. He was also recipient of the second-place honor in the Metal Building Manufacturers Assoc. Student Design Competition, which sought to foster innovation in sustainable design for a marine nature center in Gloucester.

“We are thrilled to see him grow and develop within our team,” the firm said, “and we are confident that he will continue to excel in this new role.”