Abstract: A detention facility includes an outer, weather envelope and an inner, detention or security envelope. The facility can include dormitory blocks comprising group living units within the detention envelope and can also include a cell block comprising individual cell units within a separate detention envelope. Environmental control systems for the facility can be placed between the weather and detention envelopes and can include lighting systems and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems. The detention envelopes can be constructed of a relatively open, mesh-like material to transmit light and air, and also to facilitate surveillance of inmates within the detention envelopes. The detention facility can include an administrative unit and can be retrofit in an existing light industrial facility.