Rochester / Monroe County Communications Center
Rochester, New York

This advanced facility provides emergency communications for police, fire and emergency medical services covering the City of Rochester and more than 80 agencies throughout Monroe County. The 24,000 square foot structure includes a primary operations center with forty custom-designed work stations surrounding a raised circular supervisors’ station. There is also a secondary operations center with 20 work stations for training or backup in large scale disasters. The building contains special security systems, building hardening features, systems redundancy and work stations custom-designed from a detailed ergonomics study of human factors, lighting, acoustics and HVAC at each work station individually controlled.

The primary operations center is designed as a theatre with special considerations for lighting, acoustics, sight lines and comfort. An interior landscaped atrium and exterior walled garden also provide pleasant visual relief. A raised visi­tors’ gallery provides good views into the impor­tant spaces while achieving security and eliminat­ing disruption from visiting dignitaries and tour groups.

Leach Mounce and their consul­tants provided full services including needs as­sess­ment, risk analysis, ergonomics study, systems packaging, design and construction management.