The NC National Guard and NC Department of Public Safety share a mission to protect and serve the citizens of North Carolina.  O’Brien Atkins was selected to design the Joint Force Headquarters and State Emergency Operations Center in order for them to better address state emergencies and replace substandard facilities. Their program incorporates National Guard office space for multiple units including Guard Command, conference areas, training rooms, band rehearsal room, fitness room, a 400 seat auditorium, SCIF and other essential secure spaces.

The State’s Emergency Management program includes the State Command Center where the Governor, State and federal disaster officials can oversee emergency relief efforts.  A media briefing room with connections for TV station vehicles, offices for directors, staff and a Governor’s suite are integral program elements.  The Emergency Situation Room is flanked by multiple support spaces and includes the main command console and media wall.  Multiple secure spaces are also included in the Emergency Management program.  A large atrium space serves to connect the building vertically, provides natural daylight and doubles as a drill and event hall. The building and site incorporate required Department of Defense anti-terrorism methods including standoff distances, security fencing, guardhouse, pop up barriers and blast protection measures.

The NC DOT Triangle Regional Transportation Management Center, the Statewide Transportation Operations Center, NC Turnpike Authority Triangle Traffic Center and the State Highway Patrol’s Regional Communications Center are collocated in the new facility. The NCDOT program features the Transportation Center with a state of the art media wall broadcasting highway traffic from across the State and region. Included in the NCDOT transportation center are consoles for NC DOT, State Highway Patrol, Turnpike and Emergency Management 24/7 monitoring.

The building was designed to achieve the equivalent of a LEED Silver certification and was funded by both State and Federal funds.