Construction At New Lake Forest Police Department HQ To Start Soon

LAKE FOREST, IL — The Lake Forest City Council awarded construction bids for the police department's new facility this month, and work is expected to begin very soon.

The bidding process started in August, according to Brian Kronewitter, Executive Vice President of Cordogan, Clark and Associates, and consisted of the department contacting more than 3,300 contractors.

The total project cost is $25,781,000, Kronewitter said.

To lower the impact on taxpayers in Lake Forest, the city's budget for the 2026 fiscal year includes a $6 million transfer from the City's General Fund and the remainder will be funded through a General Obligation bond issue.

For the average Lake Forest home valued at $1 million, the added cost is estimated to be approximately $183 per year once fully phased in after 2026.

"We strongly believe the design ... reflects both operational efficiency and numerous opportunities for future growth, if needed," Burke said.

The current public safety building at 255 W. Deerpath Road, which is shared by the Lake Forest
police and fire departments, has provided a challenge for the department amid a changing law enforcement landscape, department officials said.

It was built in the 1960s and didn't give much room for significant expansion, which left department needs unmet, according to Deputy Chief of Operations Michael Lange. The need for additional training space, evidence storage and office space for staff was the driving force behind the search for a new location, Lange said.

In the summer of 2024, the City Council approved the plan to turn an office building into a new Lake Forest police HQ. The new space at 1925 Field Court is three stories and 98,304 square feet and includes an underground garage.

When completed, the new police department building will include a 25-yard firing range, room for a K-9 storage area and wash bay and 275 parking spaces. Officials are also considering:

• completely resurfacing the parking lot;
• adding ballistic film to all windows on the first floor;
• building out the emergency operations center;
• adding an outdoor deck by the lunchroom;
• and installing two additional HVAC rooftop units.

The construction process is expected to start very soon and to last until fall 2026.