Core Design Team

Firm: Rice Fergus Miller

Kirsten Dahlquist – Project Architect
Dave Fergus – Retired Principal in Charge
Ron Easterday – Retired Project Manager
Stan Palmer – Former Project Architect
Angie Tommiser – Interior Designer
Leah Svoboda – Interior Designer
Gunnar Gladics – Principal in Charge
Charles Krimmert – Project Manager

Consultants/Collaborators

MEP: SIDER + BYERS
Civil Engineer: GIBBS & OLSON
Structural Engineer: DEGENKOLB ENGINEERS
Communications Engineer: ADCOMM ENGINEERING LLC
Geotech: SHANNON & WILSON, INC.
Landscape Architect: CLARK LAND DESIGN
Cost Estimating: PRODIMS

Project Narrative

As a society, we hold our first responders in high regard. We admire the courage that it takes to run into a burning building and the skill required to perform lifesaving treatments in a high-stakes environment. However, we often forget about another essential group of first responders that are the first to answer the call, never knowing what awaits them at the other end of the line. 911 Dispatchers work under highly stressful conditions that require active listening, quick thinking, and effective communication. Dispatchers work long shifts at all hours of the day and night and often experience vicarious trauma and PTSD from not knowing the result of the calls they answer. This demanding work environment also leads to an increased risk of obesity, insomnia, and substance abuse.

The previous 911 dispatch facility for Cowlitz county was in located the flood-prone basement of a local municipal building. The space was utterly uninspiring with no access to natural light or outdoor amenity space. There were also few opportunities for relaxation or decompression between traumatic calls. It was certainly not a space that supported the long-term health and well-being of our first responders.

As a result of these existing conditions, the design team saw an opportunity to create a workplace which prioritized the dispatchers’ physical, mental, and emotional wellness – a space which would boost morale and provide a sense of pride in their work. With this primary goal in mind, the design team set out to design Cowlitz 911 Public Authority a new 13,000 square foot emergency response facility.

LOOK TO THE NATURAL WORLD
In the pursuit of designing a nurturing and supportive environment, the design team turned to the principles of nature and biophilia. As architects and designers, the why behind this design approach was obvious, but we needed to convince our clients. The design team turned to the research of Dr. Qing Li, the world’s foremost expert in forest medicine and author of the book Forest Bathing, which explains how exposure to nature promotes health and happiness. “Nature feeds our soul and brings us joy…nature takes our breath away and breathes new life into us…nature creates beautiful patterns everywhere we look…the infinite patterns of nature are scientifically proven to relax us.” This proposal deeply resonated with the client team and the phrase Nature is Nurture became the overarching concept for the entire project.

CAPTURING NATURE’S GIFTS
The central corridor running in the east-west direction includes clerestory windows that allow natural light to fill the interior. The orientation maximizes daylight and reduces the need for artificial lighting during the daytime. The result is not just energy efficiency, but a connection to the ever-changing sky above, reinforcing the natural circadian rhythm and acting as a subtle reminder of the world beyond computer screens.

The Dispatch Room, where staff spend the bulk of their shifts, takes advantage of thoughtfully landscaped view opportunities to the North and ample amounts of indirect daylight. Dispatchers, though working indoors, are never disconnected from the natural world. Extensive daylighting studies conducted during design ensure balanced lighting from daylight, artificial light and digital screens to reduce eye strain over time. In addition to the visual connection to nature, a courtyard with direct access from the Dispatch Room offers a breath of fresh air and a brief reprieve between calls.

SAFETY AND SECURITY
The public entry, reception, and lobby provide views for staff to easily see visitors on foot or in vehicles approaching the building and greet them as they arrive. In lieu of standard bollards, thoughtfully placed boulders in the landscape near the public entry provide visual deterrents for unauthorized vehicle approach. Inside the building secure, and blast-resistant glazed vestibules along with a robust access control system, ensure entry only for authorized staff.

AMENITY SPACES
Incorporated into the plan are several types of amenity spaces which support staff health and well-being. An ample kitchen and breakroom provide space for staff to gather, dine, and celebrate together, while a fitness room offers the opportunity to blow off steam. Both these spaces have direct access to a southern facing outdoor patio space which extends the indoor program and can accommodate large staff gatherings.

Located directly across from the Dispatch Room are a pair of Quiet Rooms which are sized for one to two people. They offer a peaceful escape for a few moments after a stressful call. One is equipped with a sink and refrigerator to also function as a lactation room for breastfeeding people.

Lastly, the building is circled by a landscaped meditative walking path which connects the southern patio and northern courtyard. Native plantings, water features, rockeries, and comfortable benches provide opportunities along the path for outdoor immersion or quiet contemplation.

INTERIOR EXPERIENCE AND WAYFINDING
The interior palette is largely neutral and incorporates a mix of warm wood tones and cool greys reminiscent of natural stone. In key areas, pops of green are introduced to reinforce the biophilic concept and range from vibrant in areas of movement such as the corridor to more subdued in areas of relaxation such as the quiet rooms.
Down the central corridor, a subtle carpet pattern is employed, evocative of a mossy forest trail. Neutral at the edges, a meandering path of green leads occupants down the primary hall and its secondary offshoots. The path terminates at door thresholds and gives way to a more tranquil carpet pattern in meeting rooms and workspaces.
Bookending the facility are two entry vestibules – one for the public and one for staff. Both incorporate end-grain wood blocks which bring warmth and pay homage to Longview’s timber and logging industry. Additionally, window openings in each space frame views of soaring Douglas Fir trees outside.

CLIENT INTERACTION AND NEW CONSIDERATIONS
Schematic Design commenced in March of 2020. As design kicked off, so did the pandemic and 911 dispatchers adapted to new demands brought about by the crisis. Call volumes surged due to emergencies related to the virus, mental health crises, and domestic issues exacerbated by lockdowns. Dispatchers played a critical role in disseminating public health information, providing callers with guidance on safety protocols and local health resources. Our client’s stress and workload increased significantly during our time together, necessitating an even greater emphasis on mental health support and resources for dispatchers.

Despite the extreme challenges of the pandemic, the design and client team met weekly from March through October 2020. They adapted to virtual tools and techniques, which enhanced the design process instead of hindering it. These tools facilitated real-time communication, frequent design reviews, and efficient decision-making, keeping the project on track and introducing greater flexibility and innovation. The team’s resilience and adaptability turned a challenging situation into an opportunity for growth and improvement.

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY
Imagined as an emergency campus featuring the Cowlitz 911 Dispatch Facility and a future fire station, the development is strategically situated on a previously developed suburban site, ensuring moderate walkability and access to transit. The building design emphasizes energy efficiency through orientation for daylighting, an enhanced envelope, high-efficiency windows with low-E coatings, advanced LED lighting controls, a high-efficiency HVAC system with zoning capabilities, and indoor air quality monitoring. Renewable energy considerations include PV readiness, while water conservation is achieved through low-flow fixtures. Sustainable interior materials are prioritized, using low or no VOC paints and finishes. Indoor environmental quality is enhanced by maximizing natural light through strategic window placement, minimizing the need for artificial lighting. As an essential facility designed with resiliency in mind, it boasts a robust structural system designed to withstand liquefaction from seismic or tsunami events. The landscaping features native plantings requiring little to no irrigation and permeable patios and walkways to reduce runoff. Employee wellbeing is supported with ergonomically designed dispatch desks and spaces of respite, both on the interior and exterior.

A SANCTUARY FOR OUR HEROES
The Cowlitz 911 Dispatch Facility is more than wood studs and drywall. It’s a testament to our community’s unwavering commitment to serving those who serve us. The design team’s goal was to create a sanctuary for these heroes—a place where their well-being is paramount. This project harnesses the power of biophilic-inspired design to heal and nurture, demonstrating that architecture is not just about erecting structures; it’s about creating spaces which elevate the human spirit.