CHICOPEE — The town of Lenox marked a major milestone this past weekend with the ribbon cutting of its new public safety complex — a modern, future-ready facility designed by Caolo & Bieniek Architects (CBA).

The project brings the town’s Police, Fire, and EMS departments together under one roof for the first time, replacing aging and undersized buildings that had long limited departmental operations.

The new, 21,000-square-foot complex stems from CBA’s 2019 Space Needs Analysis, which assessed conditions at existing facilities and explored renovation and siting options. That study ultimately guided the design of a purpose-built headquarters featuring secure police operations — including an interview suite, evidence processing, and a sally port — as well as dedicated fire and EMS spaces with sleeping quarters, apparatus bays, and contamination control areas.

“This building truly supports how modern first responders work,” outgoing Police Chief Stephen O’Brien said. “CBA understood our needs from day one and designed a facility that will serve Lenox for decades.”

Town officials emphasized the project’s long trajectory, beginning with early discussions in 2015 and culminating in unanimous voter approval in 2022. Incoming Police Chief Mark Smith praised the town’s long-term vision, noting that “Lenox built this facility with the future in mind — and that’s what makes it exceptional.”

Residents toured the new building during a recent open house, getting a rare behind-the-scenes look before departments transition into the space. For CBA, the completion of the Lenox Public Safety Complex represents a continued commitment to serving Western Mass. communities with thoughtful, functional, and forward-looking municipal design.

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.”