The City of Lacombe is one of few smaller Alberta communities that has an architecturally significant downtown including predominantly brick buildings. This came as the result of a fire in the early 20th century that devastated a large number of wood-frame and wood-clad buildings in the core. While the existing detachment was exceedingly cramped and under-serviced, its place and familiarity to residents were attributes that would be difficult to replicate on a bare site away from the city centre.

The detachment was relocated to a new building on a spacious greenfield site closer to the edge of this growing city. The design is based on a sensitive interpretation and application of the colours, materials and proportions found downtown, including in the previous police station. Constructive client critiques through the design phase were to imbue the new building with an almost residential feel and a welcoming human scale.

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