Description

The new 7,000 SF North Middlesex Regional Emergency Communications Center exceeds the needs of the two towns it serves: Tewksbury and Dracut. It is outfitted to handle more.

The employees of an ECC receive all incoming calls for police, medical and fire assistance, then dispatch them using specific computer-aided systems. It is therefore a high-stress work environment, so its architecture needed special consideration. Elements such as materials, colors, natural and artificial lights, and views of the surrounding natural landscape play a fundamental role in reducing the stress level to which dispatchers are exposed.

At the same time, the building’s security had to be considered, regarding how to protect the building and its employees against outside threats such as bullets and vehicles. Additional challenges for this project come from the site, located between an existing facility and a pond with related wetland lines. The new building was positioned keeping all these elements into consideration, and the dispatchers are protected by its hardened shell and by the redundant electric generators provided on site.

We take pride in taking care of first responders so they can take care of the wider community.