RENO, Nevada (KOLO) – After nearly five years of construction, the City of Reno is receiving its new 10,000-square-foot Public Safety Center at 911 Kuenzli Street.
In 2019, the City of Reno purchased the building for $8 million. The building, which formerly housed the Reno Gazette-Journal, underwent extensive renovations and became a Reno Police Department headquarters. $60 million later, the new public safety building is complete.
The project did not start from scratch. Much of the building’s original structure was retained, reducing its environmental impact and preserving its historical significance. It also doubled the square footage of the current Reno Police Department building on Second Street.
“It’s easier to deploy resources. Right now we’re in a three-story building, not everyone can see each other and communicate with each other,” said Police Chief Kathryn Nance. “We have a much easier process for getting in and out. We have multiple gates they can go through. Right now we’re backing up and waiting for traffic on a one-way street. Here you pull into a parking lot or onto the street, so you can get out a little quicker.”
New amenities include technical infrastructure, private interview rooms and more space to accommodate the expansion of the police department and the number of residents.
“Right now, in-person services are really difficult because of the lack of parking, privacy and places to make those reports. When you come here, you have access to a full-service police department. If you want to be a detective, we have quiet family rooms where people can go and feel comfortable. They’re not hard interview rooms. You’re not sitting at someone’s desk,” Nance said.
The city says some members of the Reno Police Department are now working in the new building, while the entire agency is expected to move in September and October. Residents should continue to use the 455 E 2nd Street location for in-person services through September.
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