Rockingham County Municipal Complex, Brentwood, New Hampshire

In need of housing several departments within Rockingham County under one roof, a 25-acre parcel was set aside for the development of a 110,000-sf municipal complex in Brentwood, NH. Set among sensitive wetlands home to threatened species and a profitable hay field for the County, careful consideration was required for the site and necessary infrastructure while prioritizing energy efficiency. The complex strategically addressed spatial adjacency & improved functionality for Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Operations and Dispatch Center, Department of Corrections, County Attorney, Registry of Deeds, and County Commissioners. Built to last 100+ years, minimizing long-term maintenance and keeping future planning in mind, the facility features R-60 roofs; R-49 walls; high-performance glazing; a continuous vapor barrier with advanced detailing, accessible roof drains, hose bibs; and a 5,600-sf mechanical penthouse for easy access to equipment and room for future upgrades. Nobis Group provided full site-civil engineering, stormwater/wastewater design, and permitting with a focus on improving the health and safety of the community; reducing environmental and financial impacts for the County; and protecting the existing wetlands and threatened wildlife residing on the site.

To minimize disruption during construction of the campus-wide water distribution system replacement, phased design and implementation maintained uninterrupted water service to the existing nursing home and jail. Historical drawings, GIS data, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) were referenced, and directional borings at two strategic state highway crossings at North Road were employed to identify and reroute utilities without disturbing the recently paved roadway. Nobis also investigated, drilled, and permitted a new public water supply well for the complex, replacing one contaminated by Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and freeing up developable acreage. Design, permitting, and construction of a 4.3-megawatt solar array reduced the environmental and financial impact of powering the new complex. Nobis developed a plan in partnership with New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Wetlands Bureau and New Hampshire Fish and Game to protect the Eastern Meadowlark and the Spotted Turtle, both threatened species, during construction and harvest season for the profitable, County-owned hayfield adjacent to the complex.  To further prevent contamination of sensitive ecosystems due to stormwater runoff, the team designed and implemented a filtration unit. Transportation safety challenges resulted in the consolidation and realignment of several existing county driveways and construction of new sidewalks with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB)crosswalks to increase pedestrian safety.