The General Services Administration’s (GSA) Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry, connecting San Diego to Tijuana, Mexico is the third-busiest crossing on the Mexico-United States border, and the busiest when it comes to commercial truck traffic.

A couple years ago, Gruen Associates was part of the Design-Build team for the expansion and modernization of the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry located in San Diego, California. 

Gruen Associates was the Executive Architect, Land Use Planner, and Landscape Architect, working alongside 

• Design Architect – Jones Studio and 
• the joint venture team of Atkinson/Clark Construction.

During the design phase, B.I.G. Enterprises was honored to be selected as the manufacturer of the multiple types of Inspection Booths required.  B.I.G.  has extensive knowledge of the requirements the US Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) expects in these booths in order to safely perform the active daily duties at these busy border crossings, and more importantly, protect the officers working in the booths.

Not only are the booths manufactured to achieve the ballistic requirements, B.I.G. has extensive knowledge of GSA and CBP requirements for secure window systems to deter intruders.  Another feature is the angled front wall & window that offers a more direct line of visibility for the office in the booth facing the oncoming vehicle.

Finally, at many of the US Southern borders where the climate can be extreme, B.I.G. supplies and installs the proper HVAC systems to ensure the conditions inside of the booth are comfortable for the officers working long hours in blazing hot weather. 

The proper HVAC, also with B.I.G’s exclusive exterior continuous insulation system over the armor plate makes the difference. It is a valid reason why B.I.G. is chosen as the booth supplier for most LPOE (Land Ports of Entry) projects.  

All of these features are present in an Inspection booth that is not only efficient, highly protective, properly conditioned but Architecturally superior.