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Perhaps BKL’s most publicized project, the David
L. Moss Criminal Justice Center is a 1,440-bed, direct supervision jail serving
Tulsa County, Oklahoma. The facility houses minimum, medium and
maximum-security inmates. Single or double-occupancy cells comprise 72% of the
total beds for medium and maximum-security inmates; the balance of the beds is
provided in dormitories for minimum-security (trustee) inmates. Support
facilities include intake, inmate programs, medical, laundry, commissary, food
service, maintenance shops, and jail administration. The medical component
includes a 24-bed infirmary, as well as outpatient medical and dental treatment,
and eight negative air pressure treatment rooms. The
support facilities are sized and oriented to support the ultimate capacity of
3,000 inmates.
The 22 acre site was located in the oldest part
of downtown Tulsa. The master plan included work to remove existing aging
housing and rebuild the utility infrastructure. Water, storm sewer, sanitary
sewer, and gas mains were relocated and/or enlarged. Included in the master
plan were bike trails through the site, extensive landscaping, storm water
drainage, and parking areas. Circulation patterns were critical to making the
most of a limited site. The site was designed to hold ten additional housing
pods when the need arises.
The introduction of natural light, direct and
orderly circulation and simplicity of construction are key elements of the
design. Skylights, clerestories and light wells are used throughout the
facility to introduce as much natural light as possible. Another design feature
includes the utilization of a “windowless cell” concept. In this concept,
housing units are surrounded by a mechanical/electrical chase and natural light
requirements are met by utilizing skylights and glazing to the adjacent
recreation yard. This concept allows for access to the mechanical/electrical
areas in a non-secure environment, providing for more efficient operations and
maintenance. The housing units benefit from superior natural lighting and a
secure perimeter defined by the rear precast concrete cell wall. The result is
a facility, constructed almost entirely of precast concrete, that is light, open
and non-oppressive.
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