Valley Emergency Communications Center Remodel

Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC) is the consolidated 911/dispatch and backup emergency operations center for 19 law enforcement and fire agencies, serving most of the Salt Lake Valley.

In 2000, Galloway provided the original state-of-the-art design for this vital operations center with focused attention beyond the technical components to provide a working environment supporting this high-stress profession. In addition, the building sits on a fault line and was constructed on seismic base isolators to allow decreased movement to occur independently of the surrounding earth and reduce potential damage.

The facility comprises the administrative offices for both VECC and the Utah Communication Agency Network (UCAN), an emergency operations center, and an operations floor housing sixty 911 call-takers, law enforcement officials, and fire dispatchers.

After operating 24/7 for more than 20 years without renovations or infrastructure upgrades, and with the steady growth of Salt Lake Valley, VECC understood the need for a significant facility remodel. VECC Directors turned to Galloway to remodel the facility.

Galloway provided architectural and interior design services for evaluating the existing facility and equipment, prioritization and time parameters, cost modeling, and remodel phasing requirements.

The remodel included new dispatch consoles, an improved layout to increase dispatch functionality and interaction efficiency, and newly refreshed finishes. Creative flooring solutions that worked with the seismic nature of the building were implemented for the tile corridors to prevent disruption.

The most significant upgrade was the state’s radio system. Galloway provided a feasibility study and a master plan to help the center identify finish upgrades, mechanical systems replacement, electrical design upgrades, service upgrades, replacement of all lighting fixtures to LED units, replacement of all low voltage cabling, security enhancements, and replacement of 58 dispatch/call-taker stations. The new lighting and power loads will help with the center’s function, which provides a critical, around-the-clock response to many Salt Lake Valley communities.