A new facility shared by 2 government departments
which oversee the coordination of emergency services
throughout the region. The building has received
a LEED Certification rating from the US Green Building
Council. A number of sustainable strategies were
incorporated: Rainwater collection; Passive cooling
and daylighting; Use of recycled and recyclable
materials; Use of native landscaping. The structural
system is an integral part of the architectural
aesthetic, long cast-in-situ concrete walls form
a shell, within which a lighter steel structure
is expressed. Built to accommodate earthquakes of
magnitude 9.0, the steel acts as a moment frame,
the concrete walls as shear components. The driving
force for the design was however, the needs of the
people working in a highly stressful environment,
and whose previous workplace was in a basement.
To combat high staff turnover, the main workspaces
are 2 large open rooms, indirectly lit by clerestory
windows. These workrooms have direct access to an
outdoor area which fully opens to the surrounding
landscape. Within the workrooms, each staff member
has individual control of task lighting, heating
and cooling systems, to provide maximum comfort
for each individual. Communal areas away from the
stress of the workrooms are provided, such as a
staff gym, break-out rooms (for immediate counseling)
and a dining hall.
