New York’s City Police Academy, a seven-year, LEED Gold project led by Perkins + Will with Michael Fieldman Consulting Architects, boldly represents the importance of the institution. A monumental, 730,000-square-foot building, it stands as a symbol of the commitment the city has to training strong, competent first-responders.

It takes more than 5 minutes to stride from one end of the ground level’s central promenade to the other. Natural light enters both through a window wall and through a skylight, so sunshine plays on the stained-maple paneling.