Following Hurricane Katrina, many entities realized how vulnerable they were to a natural disaster. In response to that awareness, the Port of Baton Rouge decided to examine all aspects of its emergency readiness plan.
We were commissioned to design their new 14,800 SF (1,370 SM) Emergency Command Center. The Port owned a one-story office building. The Command Center is a three-story addition to an existing one-story office building.
This three-story addition features a Conference/News Media Center on the third floor that affords a birds-eye view of the Mississippi River. This addition also houses sleeping quarters and changing rooms for emergency personnel.
The facility has 100% redundant HVAC systems and an emergency generator.
Following the completion of the Emergency Command Center, the Port had us select furniture and art for the new facility as well as their existing offices.