To expand its training facilities, Western Technical College moved its shooting range from a classroom building to an existing well-built storage building on the school’s 160-acre campus near Sparta, Wis. Eliminating the frequent sound of gunfire in a classroom building and reducing sound leakage were among the primary reasons for moving the range. Panels were installed to absorb sound reverberation and reduce decibel (dB) levels inside the building while minimizing noise outside the facility.
The LEED Silver Certified Sparta Public Safety Training Facility consists of indoor and outdoor firing ranges and a forensic investigation laboratory. The multifaceted building was designed to provide scenario-based training and is available for rent. Extra-wide doors enable vehicles to be placed in the building, and alternating flashing lights can simulate traffic stop conditions in the shooting range. In addition to the college’s students, the shooting range is used by various agencies for training. More convenient to access than the range at nearby Ft. McCoy, the agencies renting the facility include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.