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911 Call Center Built with Strength and Stability
(Albuquerque, New Mexico, October, 2002) – The residents of Smith County, Texas will soon rest assured that their safety and well being will be in the best of hands. PolySteel distributor, Bob Levine, of WRL General Contractors is supplying the forms and managing the construction for the 15,000 square foot 911 Emergency Call Center. This center will support the entire Smith County region and will combine services with the fire and police headquarters. The community of Tyler, Texas and the surrounding Smith County look forward to the completion of the call center. They know the emergency workers will be provided with the best working environment to perform their jobs, resulting in better response to emergencies within the community.
The project’s construction management firm, WRL General Contractors, saw the opportunity to implement the strength of PolySteel Insulating concrete forms. The PolySteel product was offered during the preliminary meetings. Board members and the architects involved became interested in learning more about this superior building product. The architects on the project, Eubanks & Harris Architects, made their way to Albuquerque to meet with the manufacturers of the PolySteel forms. They met with Patrick Murphy, President of American PolySteel and toured the manufacturing facilities. After they saw evidence of the performance of this superior building product, they decided to use nothing other than PolySteel forms in the construction of Smith County’s new 911 Emergency Call Center.
The idea for the shelter began when the Sheriffs of both Smith County and Tyler, Texas, saw the need to create one large, consolidated communications center that would serve the entire Smith County population. The city and county had a need for a storm and terrorist shelter which would perform as an emergency operating center, bringing all public safety issues into one protected location.
When Jim Carlisle, Team Leader of Research, visited call centers from Florida to California, he pulled the best ideas from all the centers he visited and created the layout for Smith County’s new 911 Emergency Call Center. Within the center of the 15,000 square foot structure will be an interior room which will serve as the hub of the wheel that is protecting the community. The center hub will be double hardened, an 11” concrete shell surrounding an additional 11” concrete wall. The hub will contain the electronic system for the call center. It will also be self sustained, fully stocked with food and water.
The ground clearing and construction of this massive community project will begin in mid October 2002. The completed project will result in a 15,000 square foot building that will combine the services of the 911 Call Center and provide headquarters for police and fire officials. The combination of these services into one service center will result in better service and response to the community. The completion date of the project is anticipated to be November 2003.
The entire project will be funded by a bank loan which will cover the construction cost of the building. The cost is estimated at $2.8 million. The City and County will pay for the operations of the emergency call center through general tax revenue.
The PolySteel wall system combines solid, reinforced concrete with high-density expanded polystyrene and galvanized steel to create structures that are stronger, comfortable, and more energy efficient. The strength of the PolySteel walls are proven to withstand the forces of winds from tornadoes and hurricanes, providing a much needed shelter for the community during a severe storm. The superior insulating performance results in a more comfortable environment and lower energy bills throughout the year. PolySteel forms will provide security and energy savings to the community for several generations to come.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, American PolySteel has been manufacturing superior insulating concrete forms since 1978. Networks of distributors are working with homeowners, builders and architects, creating superior, energy efficient homes.
Project Profile
· Tyler, Texas
· 15,000 Square Feet
· 911 Call Center/Police & Fire Headquarters
· 2,910 PolySteel forms
· 1 Story
· brick & rock exterior
Eubanks & Harris Architects
(903) 534-0995
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