Built To Last Police Architects Design for The One In A Million Storm

Most companies in disaster-prone areas are aware that special building considerations must be taken into account in order to create a structure that will withstand extreme weather. Few people think of just how harsh some weather can be, and how strong a structure must be to withstand forces of that magnitude. A recent structure designed by top police architects in Florida was asked to consider all this and more as part of the design of the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center, or EOC.

Understanding The Requirements For The Monroe County EOC

Monroe County is located in one of the most storm-prone regions in the entire United States. Situated in the Florida Keys, the facility would be threatened by hurricanes and more that could potentially bring devastating winds alongside storm surge waves. Most facilities in this part of the state are built with an understanding that these forces may come into play, but this particular building was required to do more. It was intended to not just survive a regular storm, but withstand and function during a so-called once in a lifetime storm. It had to be designed for the kind of event that most people will never see, and it had to be useable as an emergency command and control center during that time.

At This Level, Every Component Is Critical

One of the things that the police architects who built the structure understood is that every piece of the building is intimately linked. If an outside component fails, it will have consequences for the components on the inside. Likewise, if an inside component fails, it could create problems on the outside. In response, virtually everything was independently designed and manufactured for the EOC. From light switches to air intakes, everything had to be custom built in order to maximize the integration of the facility, and ultimately its chances for success.

Police Architects Plan Far Ahead

The police architects who designed the EOC were chosen for their particular skill with designing disaster-resistant buildings, and as part of that had expert knowledge of what happens during disasters. In particular, they knew that most generators tend to fail, no matter how meticulously maintained. In order to ensure that this facility could remain operational, two generators were installed, each one capable of generating all the necessary power. In addition, the facility was designed such that all operational structures are actually on the second floor, with parking for emergency vehicles found at ground level. This was to protect workers from waves of up to 20 feet, ensuring that work could continue even in the midst of catastrophe. Impact-resistant glass was used on all elements of the building, ensuring that it would resist winds of up to 245 MPH.

Overbuilt For The Typical Storm, Purpose Built For The Perfect Storm

Without doubt, the building went way beyond typical Florida building code. It even surpassed what is typically required for emergency services buildings, which are held to a higher standard. The police architects who designed this structure were specifically targeting the perfect storm, ensuring that no matter what disaster the state might face, the facility would remain operational and could serve as a coordination center to ensure that everything around it received support and relief as quickly as possible.