Project Type: Government

Juvenile Justice Services Center
Philadelphia, PA
Architect: KMD Architects

The Juvenile Justice Services Center, located in West Philadelphia, is a secure facility that provides programs and short term residency for detained youths between the ages of 13 and 20. The facility incorporates a multitude of upgraded programs and spaces that are significant improvements upon the City’s previous facility. It features an inward-focused campus with courtyards, recreation areas, and a garden. The building itself is equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms, a gymnasium, a health facility, offices, and judicial and administrative areas. The goal in developing this type of retention facility was safety of the detainees and staff while providing a different approach to rehabilitation that focused on enrichment.

From a design perspective, it was significant in its overall programmatic approach to youth rehabilitation, as well as its ambitious pursuit of LEED certification. When complete, it was awarded LEED Silver Certification by the USGBC and at the time it was the largest project in the city of Philadelphia to meet LEED standards.

Metropolitan Acoustics was involved in the design process in several disciplines due to the requirements for LEED certification and because of the significant  acoustic and sound and vibration control issues that needed to be addressed. We provided a complete analysis of the mechanical systems as well as the entire interior and building envelope in order to provide solutions for limiting noise transference from the HVAC and mechanical systems into the classrooms, library, community room, and other learning/gathering spaces in the facility.