South Sound 911 issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) in June 2017 for an architectural and engineering team to work on the design of the public safety communications center (PSCC). From that competitive process, CallisonRTKL was awarded a contract to perform programming and pre-design architectural and engineering services, and followed by a contract for the schematic design and design development phases.

The vision for the PSCC was unveiled to the public at a community meeting on Aug. 22, 2018. 

Standards

South Sound 911’s public safety communications center (PSCC) will include space for 911 and police and fire dispatch, a municipal emergency operations center EOC), administration, records and public counter services. It will be constructed to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards for essential facilities.

Design Overview

Beginning April 2018, South Sound 911’s PSCC entered into the schematic design phase, which concerns the building’s functional layout. South Sound 911 staff at all levels began providing input on spatial needs, workflows and departmental relationships. That work generated a basic layout of the three-story building, from which the exterior could be designed. (See the basic space plans for the ground level, second level and third level.)

While some aspects of the building are more traditional in design, such as the offices and administrative space, some aspects of the building require more open space, such as the communications operations area. The architects drew inspiration from many sources, including museums, where there is a need for large spaces, controlled lighting, and typically do not have many windows. Acoustical engineers will provide insight on ways to help control sound, so the critical work of answering 911 calls and dispatching responders will not be burdened by unwanted environmental noise.

For the exterior, designers envision the use a mix of materials including insulated metal panels, vertical seam metal panels, precast concrete, ipe wood, and metal canopies and railings. Fenced areas restricted to employee use and access, will be an aesthetically pleasing metal which this also secure, but not too obtrusive.