SIMI VALLEY : 3 Firms to Bid on Police Station Design

Three architectural firms have been selected to bid on the design for a new multimillion-dollar police headquarters in Simi Valley.

The city’s Civic Center Committee chose the top candidates from 10 architectural firms applying for the right to assess the needs of the department and plan a new station.

Two of the three finalists have worked on other projects in Ventura County.

Leach Mounce Architects, the only firm among the finalists based in Ventura County, designed the Ventura County East Valley Sheriff’s Station in Thousand Oaks and fire stations in Oxnard and Ventura.

Combs & Miguel, whose offices are in Sylmar and Valencia, designed the recently approved plans for Simi Valley’s Cultural Arts Center.

The third finalist, San Jose-based Ruth & Going, teamed up with a public safety specialist to design and engineer the police headquarters in South-Central Los Angeles.

The winning architect will oversee the first nine-month phase of the four-year project. The station could cost as much as $11.3 million.

“All three have done some very impressive work with police design,” Mayor Greg Stratton said. “Since this is the first phase, rather than looking for someone who builds pretty buildings, we need someone who understands police departments.”

In coming weeks, the finalists will be interviewed by the committee, made up of Stratton and Councilwoman Judy Mikels, along with City Manager Lin Koester, Police Chief Willard R. Schlieter and Deputy City Manager Bob Heitzman.

A final recommendation is scheduled to be made April 11 to the full City Council.