Essential Infrastructure: Three ‘On the Boards’ Public Works Projects Strengthening Communities

Comfort by Design: Greene County’s Behavioral Health Facility Upgrade

Seeking medical care shouldn’t be daunting. Every effort to make visits more enjoyable for patients can have a meaningful impact, and architecture and interior design play a major role. Greene County in Cairo, NY recognized this when planning a new Community Services facility to replace its outdated outpatient building. The county partnered with CPL’s Community and Culture and Healthcare Practice teams to create a safe, welcoming, and fully functional space that better supports both patients and staff.

The new outpatient building is planned to be 20,000 square feet, situated on a site the county has targeted for many years as a replacement for their existing, outdated facility. The current location has significant deficiencies that make it difficult to meet today’s standards. The new design addresses all the old building’s limitations: the outdated facility lacked air conditioning and was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, whereas the new building will be fully ADA compliant and equipped with modern climate control.

Design improvements also extend to the layout and functionality of the building. Pediatric and adult wings will be separated, providing the privacy and space that both groups require. The new layout aims to increase efficiency, allowing staff and patients to move smoothly through the facility. Input from staff was incorporated throughout the design process, ensuring that each space serves its intended purpose and meets the real-world needs of those who work and receive care there.

Our team’s interior design choices were made specifically to foster a sense of safety and comfort for the community. Color palettes, accent walls, and abundant natural lighting were carefully chosen to create a welcoming environment. Corridors feature windows at the ends, allowing patients to see outside from almost anywhere in the building, helping to reduce feelings of confinement and promoting a sense of openness.

In alignment with New York State’s push for environmentally friendly initiatives, the building will feature an all-electric mechanical system, eliminating the need for fossil fuels and supporting the state’s ecological goals. Design began in August 2025, with construction expected to take approximately one year. Once complete, Greene County’s new Community Services facility will provide the community with a safer, more welcoming, and thoughtfully designed space where patients can receive care comfortably and with dignity.

As the City of Durham has grown, its Public Works Operations Center (PWOC) faced increasing demands. Aging facilities, limited circulation, and expanding staff and equipment needs called for a comprehensive revitalization rather than piecemeal upgrades. Working alongside the City, CPL helped shape a phased plan to improve operational efficiency, strengthen emergency preparedness, and reduce environmental impact.

Flooding posed a major challenge, with five of seven buildings located within the flood plain and portions of the site extending into the floodway. A strategic property swap enabled a second campus entrance independent of MLK Drive, improving traffic flow and safety while unlocking usable land for winter operations, fleet rotation, and overflow parking.

Campus-wide improvements will include a renovated Administration Building housing a new Emergency Response Hub, a transformed Operations Building with training and meeting spaces, and an upgraded Maintenance Building to support servicing capacity and support fleet electrification. New elements—such as a two-bay truck wash with runoff mitigation and covered storage areas—will protect vehicles and enable efficient maintenance.

Construction began in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and soon revealed unsuitable subsurface soils, requiring adjustments to phasing and scope. Rather than scaling back ambitions, the city used the opportunity to strengthen its commitment to sustainability and long-term performance, incorporating solar studies, EV charging analysis, and high-performance building strategies into the evolving plan.

Expanding the project allowed the city to address long-standing site constraints while building the infrastructure needed to support a growing community. When complete, the renewed PWOC will serve as a resilient operations center capable of supporting everything from daily street maintenance to severe weather response. This will ensure public works teams are equipped to keep the city moving, protect local waterways, and support the neighborhoods that continue to shape Durham’s future. 

When it comes to highway maintenance, response time matters. The vehicles and equipment that keep roads safe, especially during winter storms and emergency situations, must be stored in facilities that are safe, organized, and operationally efficient. The new Amenia Highway Garage Complex is designed to support faster mobilization, safer daily operations, and more reliable road maintenance for the community. 

The Town of Amenia, New York acquired a vacant site from the state as part of its effort to replace an outdated highway facility that no longer meets the department’s operational needs. With the new property, town officials saw an opportunity to build a modern, purpose-built complex designed around today’s highway operations while allowing flexibility for future growth.  

The project began with a feasibility study to evaluate the newly acquired site and define operational requirements. CPL collaborated to align site planning, building design, and operational workflow, ensuring the facility would effectively support daily highway operations and long-term maintenance needs. The new complex will include the main garage building, a salt shed, a fuel dispensing shed, and a backup generator to ensure continuous operations during power outages or emergencies. The garage layout supports several key operational priorities such as protecting equipment, improving maintenance efficiency, and extending the lifespan of Amenia’s vehicles. 

Dedicated storage bays protect trucks and heavy equipment from the elements while keeping them organized and readily accessible for deployment. A central wash bay allows crews to remove corrosive road salt after winter operations and help preserve the vehicles. Mechanical bays support in-house maintenance and repairs, including one equipped with a vehicle lift for servicing larger trucks. 

A key operational feature is the inclusion of drive-through bays that open on both sides of the building. Rather than backing vehicles out or moving multiple trucks to access equipment, staff can drive straight through and circulate efficiently around the site. This layout reduces congestion, improves safety for staff, and allows crews to mobilize more quickly to help ensure roads are cleared and maintained as soon as possible for residents. 

In a rural town like Amenia, where many roads are unpaved and require frequent grading and repair, efficiency is essential. Highway crews are constantly maintaining gravel and dirt roads, filling washouts, and responding to weather-related challenges. The improved layout and expanded capacity of the new facility will strengthen the department’s ability to respond quickly and keep local roads safe and accessible for the community. 

Infrastructure That Keeps Communities Moving

From public works campuses to community health facilities and highway operations centers, thoughtful planning helps municipalities deliver essential services safely and efficiently. CPL partners with local governments to evaluate infrastructure needs, strengthen operations, and plan facilities that support communities for decades to come.

About the Authors:
Jonathan DiRocco and Richard Markgraf

Jonathan DiRocco, AIA
With nearly two decades of experience across multifamily, retail, commercial, high-end residential and municipal projects, Jonathan leads a wide range of Community Practice projects. He partners with clients from early design through construction and collaborates with our marketing team to develop strong, strategic proposals. He brings careful attention to detail and a collaborative approach that helps deliver high-quality results and lasting partnerships.

Richard Markgraf, AIA
With nearly two decades of leadership and design experience, Richard guides projects ranging from comprehensive master plans to large-scale building assessments, helping clients develop strategic, forward-looking solutions. With a background spanning architecture, consulting and financial services, Richard brings a unique perspective that blends design leadership with a strong understanding of economic and market forces.