SCHRADERGROUP Receives AIA AAJ Award for Pennsylvania State Emergency Operations Center

SCHRADERGROUP is proud to announce that their recently completed project, the New State Emergency Operations Center for Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), has been selected as a recipient for the 2018 AIA AAJ Justice Facilities Review. The project was selected for publication based on its quality of form, functionality, and current architectural response to complex justice design issues. The AIA AAJ Justice Facilities Review jury commented, “The efficiencies of co-locating multiple agencies offers positive efficiencies. The building organization favors placing day-to-day activities along the perimeter, favoring light and view for those in the facility on a daily basis.”

SG, in a joint venture with AECOM Technology Corporation (AECOM), completed the new, approximately 145,000 SF State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) serving as a home for many of the State’s emergency response functions.  In addition to ensuring the supply of continuous power and communication that is necessary for the SEOC, the design team provided a building that is reinforced and secure for emergency staff.  The new facility provides dedicated emergency services and disaster assistance for the state, with the ability to sustain uninterrupted operations during activations.

In addition to the SEOC, the facility provides ergonomically-designed office space for all PEMA administrative departments, as well as partner organizations and integrated functions such as the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Traffic Management.  The complex also supports a Tier 3 data center, media briefing, training facilities, and protected storage for PEMA operations vehicles.

Design for this facility follows sustainability guidelines, as understood by the US Green Building Council’s LEED certification process. PEMA has achieved a LEED certified rating. All programming, planning and site master planning preceding the design portion of the project also was completed by SG/AECOM.

The facility was a recipient of the same Justice Facilities Review award in 2014, prior to construction. The team is honored to receive an additional award for the completed project.

See more photos of the PEMA project here.

See the AIA AAJ Justice Facilities Review page here.