FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orleans Parish Communication District Releases
Schematic Design for Expansion and Moves the Project to the Next Phase
NEW ORLEANS (March 10, 2020) – The Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD) has released schematic design plans for the expansion of the Chief Warren E. McDaniels, Sr. 9-1-1 Center, and has received approval from the OPCD Board of Commissioners to move forward to the next phase of development.
Click here to view an interactive fly-through video of the plan facility. A presentation of the schematic design can be viewed here.
In March 2019, the board authorized a concept and feasibility study to be completed by New Orleans based architecture firm, VergesRome. In November the board authorized the completion of the schematic design phase.
Tuesday morning, the OPCD Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution allowing OPCD Executive Director, Tyrell Morris, to enter into contract negotiations with VergesRome for expansion project design development.
“We have defined the needs of our organization and have a plan on how to meet them. Now we must focus on securing the financial resources to make this a reality for our city,” stated OPCD Executive Director, Tyrell Morris. “We are incredibly happy with the schematic design that the team at VergesRome put together and I believe this project will allow us to protect our city unlike any other and become the international model for effective and efficient communications.”
“This has been an exciting collaborative process with OPCD to develop a world-class public safety campus that will fully support the intensive work that OPCD is already doing,” stated Chip Verges with VergesRome Architects. “The design team is dedicated to creating a project that invests in employee wellness and retention. We believe the result of this investment will be increased employee productivity, recruitment and ultimately maximum effective emergency response.”
The planned expansion, which is currently estimated to cost between $16 million and $25 million, will include the following:
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- Additional space and positions on the OPCD operations floor to manage increased 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 call volumes, and to provide services for all emergency response agencies operating in Orleans Parish
- Bunking space will be available for OPCD and partner agency personnel during extended emergency operations
- Emergency Operations Center
- Training and simulation space
- Emergency vehicle storage for public safety agencies to stage for easy deployment
- Increased technology infrastructure space to accommodate Next Generation 9-1-1 technology (soon to be required by federal legislation)
- An onsite childcare facility specifically designed for the families of first responders
The success of this project will largely depend on the financial support of private philanthropic gifts as well as state and federal partners. If you are interested in supporting this project financially, please contact OPCD Public Information Officer, Marcus Creel, through email at [email protected].
About VergesRome Architects, APAC and Page Southerland Page, Inc. (www.vergesrome.com)
VergesRome Architects, headquartered in Mid-City for over 50 years, has delivered successful projects in nearly every project type and magnitude for private and public clients. Page, founded in 1898, is one of the nation’s most prolific architectural and engineering practices with extensive expertise in Public Safety Answering Point, control building and data center projects similar to the Orleans Parish Communications District’s Public Safety Centralized Communications Center. Together, VergesRome Architects and Page are primed to deliver creative, feasible solutions where design reinforces the specialized and sophisticated OPCD operations.
About the Orleans Parish Communication District (www.OPCDLA.gov)
Formed in 1982, the Orleans Parish Communication District is the PSAP for all emergency communications via 9-1-1, and non-emergency communications via 3-1-1, within Orleans Parish. The agency employs over 150 individuals and provides emergency medical dispatch, emergency fire dispatch, and emergency police dispatch for the millions of annual visitors and residents of the City of New Orleans. OPCD is a member of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
The Mission of OPCD is to get the Right People to the Right Place at the Right Time, Better than Anybody Else in the World.
OPCD Contact:
Marcus W. Creel, MS
OPCD Public Engagement Manager
601.319.2024
[email protected]
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