City of Fort Worth Emergency Operations Center (EOC) – Fort Worth, Texas
This project involved design, construction documents, and construction administration for a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the City of Fort Worth. The EOC is the central command and control facility responsible for carrying out principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management, or disaster management functions at a strategic level in an emergency situation, to ensure the continuity of operation for the city and surrounding area(s). The project consists of renovations to existing telecommunication equipment space within an historic building in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Selection of this physical location was ideal due to its adjacency to other key City offices and for the somewhat “hardened” structure of the existing building. This “hardened structure” is inherent to data/telecommunication facilities. The existing telecommunication equipment room space was reduced to meet the current tenant’s needs, which freed up space made available to meet the EOC space requirements. In doing so, care had to be taken to modify existing redundant utilities and backup facilities, in order to maintain service for the original tenant – crucial to their business/operations. The EOC space encompasses approximately 16,500 square feet of renovated area. The focal point of this design is centered on the 3,800 square foot Coordination Room, where all of the emergency management occurs. The Coordination Room is surrounded by other crucial management functions, support facilities, Break-out/Conference rooms, and additional general office spaces. Each of these areas had its own particular programming requirements and specific attention was given to their relationship to one another. Construction of this facility is being performed by Job Order Contract (JOC) along with the City’s own inhouse personnel, and annual contract providers.