To design and build a new, 19,000 square foot firing range and firearms training center, Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia joined forces. An increasingly common sight as public budgets tighten, clients are sharing facilities and exploring public-private options to finance public safety training facilities.
Partnering with Clark Nexsen’s public safety experts to design the facility, these three groups voiced a desire for a flexible training space to create multiple scenarios as well as the need for a variety of support spaces. The new, indoor firing range replaces an existing outdoor firing range and includes acoustic controls to minimize sound transmission to adjacent residential areas. The training center features two 8-point, 50-yard tactical ranges with 180 degree shooting capability. The new facility also has the capability to bring vehicles and simulation props into the building for additional tactical training. Support spaces include a simulator room and a general purpose room, which have flexible finishes to serve as a classroom or as a space for physical training.