Detention facility

Claim 2

A structure for detaining inmates, which comprises: (a) outer, weather envelope means enclosing a relatively weather-tight interior volume; (b) interior detention envelope means enclosing a detention space and adapted to pass light and air; (c) environmental control means positioned between said weather and detention envelopes; (d) a walkway on top of said detention envelope means; and (e) observation means associated with said detention envelope means for permitting observation of said detention space from said walkway.

Claim 3

The structure according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said enclosure means includes a mesh material.

Claim 4

The structure according to claim 2 wherein: (a) said mesh material forms sides and a top of said detention envelope means.

Claim 5

The structure according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said detention space is subdivided into a plurality of discreet living units.

Claim 6

The structure according to claim 4, which includes: (a) a utility core positioned between and separating a pair of said living units.

Claim 7

The structure according to claim 5, which includes: (a) said detention space comprising a block of multiple-inmate living units; and (b) a cell block including a plurality of individual cell units.

Claim 8

The structure according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said environmental control means includes a heating, ventilating and air-conditioning subsystem with air-handling ducts positioned at least partly between said weather envelope and said detention envelope.

Claim 9

The structure according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said environmental control means includes a lighting subsystem positioned at least partly between said weather and said detention envelopes.

Claim 10

The structure according to claim 1, which includes: (a) a residential unit containing said detention space; and (b) an administrative unit connected to said residential unit.

Claim 11

In combination with an industrial-type building including an outer, weather envelope with front, back and opposite side walls, a floor structure and a roof structure, the improvement of a detention facility, which includes: (a) a living unit block including: (1) a pair of living units each having an interior; (2) a utility core extending between said living units; (3) a pair of mesh material detention walls each comprising an exterior wall of a respective living unit; and (4) a mesh ceiling on top of said living units; and (b) an environmental control system positioned between said weather envelope and said living unit block and including an air-handling duct network in air exchange relationship wit the interiors of said living units and a lighting system including electrical lighting fixtures.

Claim 12

In combination with an industrial-type building including an outer, weather envelope with front, back and opposite side walls, a floor structure and a roof structure, the improvement of a detention facility, which includes: (a) a living unit block including: (1) a pair of living units each having an interior; (2) a utility core extending between said living units; (3) a pair of mesh material detention walls each comprising an exterior wall of a respective living unit; and (4) a mesh ceiling on top of said living units; and (b) an environmental control system positioned between said weather envelope and said living unit block and including an air-handling duct network in air exchange relationship wit the interiors of said living units and a lighting system including electrical lighting fixtures.

Claim 13

The structure according to claim 10, which includes: (a) a platform on top of said utility core.

Claim 14

The structure according to claim 11, which includes: (a) a stairway extending from said floor structure to said platform.

Claim 15

The structure according to claim 12 wherein: (a) said stairway and said platform are carpeted.

Claim 16

The structure according to claim 1 wherein: (a) each said living unit includes multiple beds.

Claim 17

The structure according to claim 14 wherein: (a) each said living unit includes: (1) shower means; and (2) toilet means

Claim 18

The structure according to claim 1, which includes: (a) a cell block having a plurality of individual cell units positioned in a pair of aligned columns.

Claim 19

The structure according to claim 16 wherein: (a) at least one of said cell unit columns includes a mesh roof.

Claim 20

The structure according to claim 16, which includes: (a) a corridor between said living unit and said cell block; and (b) a vehicular access facility within said enclosure, said vehicular access facility being adapted to receive a vehicle and providing controlled access to said corridor.

Claim 21

The structure according to claim 1, which includes: (a) an external mesh material enclosure including a passageway connected to said corridor.

Claim 22

In combination with an industrial-type building including a relatively large main unit having a sloping roof peaking at a longitudinally-extending, central ridge line and a relatively small secondary unit connected to the main unit, the improvement of a detention facility, which includes: (a) a residential unit positioned within said main unit and including: (1) a central living unit block with a utility core extending longitudinally under said ridge roof line, a pair of living units each positioned on a respective side of said core, exterior, mesh material walls and mesh material ceilings partially enclosing said living units, a plurality of beds in each living unit, and a walkway on top of said utility core above the level of said mesh ceilings; (2) a cell block including inner and outer longitudinally-aligned columns of cell units each having a plurality of cell units and said inner column having a mesh roof; (3) controlled access means including lockable vehicular and pedestrian access doors; (b) a heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system including a duct network positioned at least partly between said living unit block ceiling and said structure roof in an air-exchanging relationship with said living units; (c) a lighting subsystem including a plurality of light fixtures positioned between said living unit block ceiling and said roof structure; and (d) a plurality of skylights in said roof structure over said living unit block.

Claim 23

In combination with an industrial-type building including a relatively large main unit having a sloping roof peaking at a longitudinally-extending, central ridge line and a relatively small secondary unit connected to the main unit, the improvement of a detention facility, which includes: (a) a residential unit positioned within said main unit and including: (1) a central living unit block with a utility core extending longitudinally under said ridge roof line, a pair of living units each positioned on a respective side of said core, exterior, mesh material walls and mesh material ceilings partially enclosing said living units, a plurality of beds in each living unit, and a walkway on top of said utility core above the level of said mesh ceilings; (2) a cell block including inner and outer longitudinally-aligned columns of cell units each having a plurality of cell units and said inner column having a mesh roof; (3) controlled access means including lockable vehicular and pedestrian access doors; (b) a heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system including a duct network positioned at least partly between said living unit block ceiling and said structure roof in an air-exchanging relationship with said living units; (c) a lighting subsystem including a plurality of light fixtures positioned between said living unit block ceiling and said roof structure; and (d) a plurality of skylights in said roof structure over said living unit block.

Claim 24

The structure according to claim 20, which includes: (a) said mesh forming said living unit walls being galvanized.

Claim 25

The structure according to claim 20, which includes: (a) said mesh comprising said living unit block ceilings being coated with plastic having a relatively dark color.

Claim 26

A structure for detaining inmates, which comprises: (a) an outer, weather envelope including front, back and opposite side walls, a floor structure and a roof structure; and (b) a living unit block including: (1) a pair of living units each having multiple beds, shower means and toilet means; (2) a utility core extending between said living units; (3) a pair of mesh material detention walls each comprising an exterior wall of a respective living unit; and (4) a mesh ceiling on top of said living units; and (c) an environmental control system positioned between said weather envelope and said living unit block and including an air-handling duct network in air exchange relationship with the interiors of said living units.

Claim 27

A structure for detaining inmates, which comprises: (a) an outer, weather envelope including front, back and opposite side walls, a floor structure and a roof structure; and (b) a living unit block including: (1) a pair of living units each having multiple beds, shower means and toilet means; (2) a utility core extending between said living units; (3) a pair of mesh material detention walls each comprising an exterior wall of a respective living unit; and (4) a mesh ceiling on top of said living units; and (c) an environmental control system positioned between said weather envelope and said living unit block and including an air-handling duct network in air exchange relationship with the interiors of said living units.

Claim 28

A structure for detaining inmates, which comprises: (a) outer, weather envelope means enclosing a relatively weather-tight interior volume; (b) interior detention envelope means enclosing a detention space and adapted to pass light and air; (c) environmental control means positioned between said weather and detention envelopes; (d) a walkway on top of said detention envelope means; and (e) said detention envelope means including sides and a top formed of a mesh material.

Claim 29

A structure for detaining inmates, which comprises: (a) outer, weather envelope means enclosing a relatively weather-tight interior volume; (b) interior detention envelope means enclosing a detention space and adapted to pass light and air; (c) environmental control means positioned between said weather and detention envelopes; (d) a walkway on top of said detention envelope means; and (e) said detention envelope means including sides and a top formed of a mesh material.