San Bernardino Valley Communications Center

An emergency and natural disaster response facility in the country’s largest county

The San Bernardino Valley Communications Center is built to withstand any natural disaster — from cataclysmic seismic events to fires and manmade disasters. The 75,000-square-foot center replaces the valley’s aging, undersized emergency communications infrastructure to support more than 130 emergency responders fielding calls from across the county. It also brings together multiple agencies under one roof, including the Sheriff-Coroner Department, Office of Emergency Services, County Fire and CONFIRE, among others. In partnership with Griffin Structures, LPA delivered design, engineering and programming services for the earthquake-resistant facility.

As an essential services building, the design goes significantly beyond standard code, accounting for seismic activity and 24/7 operational needs. In lieu of a traditional foundation, it’s set on a base isolation system with Triple Friction Pendulum isolators at each column, anchored to reinforce concrete pedestals and designed to allow for up to six feet of lateral displacement. Expansion loops in the ground-connected piping provide flexibility to prevent breakage. The elevator pit — typically integrated into the foundation — is structurally isolated and suspended from the first floor, while the generators, large enough to supply power for multiple days, are placed on their own isolation pad.

Outside, a “moat” encircles the steel-and-glass building, buffering it from the surrounding site in the event of tectonic shifts. A 200-foot communications tower, 8-foot fence, K-rated steel bollards and large boulders reinforce the center’s defensible design strategies and ability to remain functional under extreme emergency conditions.

Just as emergency preparedness is prioritized in every detail, so is the health and wellness of those who work within its walls. Vertical fins break up the glass paneling, providing protection from harsh eastern rays and bouncing light deep within the space, giving the building a sense of rhythm and greater thermal comfort. Glazing on the northern side and high ceilings throughout let in optimal, diffused light. There’s a fitness center, locker rooms, an easily accessible kitchen and a lounge for decompressing, all of which create moments of respite for employees who put in long hours in a stressful, demanding environment.

The design also incorporates a photovoltaic array over the parking canopies and achieves a pEUI of 15.3, resulting in a 93-percent reduction in energy use.