St. Lucie County, at the recommendation of state and federal agencies, commissioned Architects Design Group to design a 7,000-SF EOC. The project was classified as an emergency need and required ADG to fast-track the production of design and construction documents.
The project was co-funded by FEMA, Florida Power, and St. Lucie County. The facility houses the county’s communications system and an enhanced 9-1-1 emergency response system. Special design requirements mandated that the building be totally self-supporting in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Special shielding, emergency power generators, on-premise water storage, and independent cooling were incorporated in the center to ensure self-sufficiency. As a nuclear shelter capable of maintaining operations for several weeks, it provides critical communications systems and responds to needed command functions for the surrounding communities.
