Sunrise Public Safety Complex – Topping Off Event

On Friday, February 19, the City of Sunrise, Florida celebrated the topping off of the new Public Safety Complex located in Sunrise. More than 120 people were in attendance including Architects Design Group, Stiles Construction, City of Sunrise elected officials, the City police and fire chiefs, and sub contractors. A “topping off” event occurs at the completion of the highest structural element on a building, in this case the roof top.  The roof and structure of the 92,000, five story, Public Safety Building was completed in early February and is composed of poured and pre-cast concrete structural elements.

 

The overall complex encompasses the Public Safety Building; a 15,000 square foot, single story Ancillary Building housing an 8 lane Firing Range and Law Enforcement Command Vehicle storage; and a two story, 18,000 square foot, 4 bay Fire Station.  The buildings provide all required functional areas for the 300 person staff.  This City facility is also housing critical infrastructure needs, including an Emergency Operations Center. 

 

The structures have been designed and are being constructed to provide for a secure, storm-hardened, state-of-the-art, technologically sophisticated center for Police and Fire Rescue Services.  Systems include 100% mechanical and electrical redundancy to all critical infrastructure components, ensuring that the facilities remain operational during and immediately after a natural disaster or man-made incident.

 

The project is scheduled to be completed in February 2011.

Designing for the 10,000 Year Storm

Architects Design Group is currently working on the Monroe County, Florida, Emergency Operations Center, designed to withstand the dynamic forces of a 10,000 year storm, a category entitled “Near Absolute.” All elements of the Emergency Operations Center exterior envelope are designed to be capable of withstanding wind forces in excess of 225 miles an hour, as well as being able to survive an ocean surge of eighteen feet. It is, to our knowledge, the first such facility in the world capable of continued operations when subjected to unique storm events of this magnitude.

 

The project is funded by FEMA, the State of Florida, and Monroe County and is scheduled to commence construction in early 2010. It will be located on the island of Marathon, midway between Key West and the mainland of Florida and will provide emergency response services for all of Monroe County.