Across the country, 911 operations are straining facilities that were never designed to accommodate today’s technology or rising call volumes. As communities assess how to modernize emergency communication operations, many are turning to adaptive reuse.
Repurposing existing buildings can offer schedule and cost advantages, particularly when agencies are consolidating services or seeking to leverage publicly owned assets. At the same time, 911 centers have high performance requirements that not every building can support during emergencies.
Wold’s architects and engineers have worked with communities to evaluate facility options early, helping leaders determine whether adaptive reuse or new construction is the most responsible long-term solution. To make the right call, leaders need a clear view of what makes a building viable for 911 – and where the risks outweigh the benefits.
Interest in adaptive reuse for 911 centers is gaining momentum for a couple of key reasons:
However, adaptive reuse is not always the most economical choice. When structural hardening, power redundancy, mechanical upgrades, technology infrastructure and security requirements are fully considered, some reuse projects approach, or exceed, the cost of a new facility. New construction may offer greater flexibility, resiliency and lifecycle value.
Wold helps communities evaluate these tradeoffs objectively, grounding decisions in operational performance rather than assumptions. For example, in Dubuque County, Iowa, Wold led a comprehensive study and space needs assessment that revealed the need to expand 911 dispatch capacity, modernize aging technology and strengthen system resiliency. The solution involved relocating into an existing commercial office building that includes a storm-hardened core for critical dispatch functions and equipment with adjacent areas repurposed for support spaces. The project demonstrates how adaptive reuse can succeed when the building and program are aligned.
Step 1: Evaluate buildings for feasibility, resiliency and fit
The most important step in any adaptive reuse effort is determining whether a building can truly support 911 operations. Beginning with a feasibility and programming study, our team helps evaluate structural capacity, power and backup generation, mechanical systems, technology infrastructure and site-specific risks such as floodplain exposure or severe weather. Many buildings that initially appear viable require extensive upgrades to meet the redundancy and resiliency standards expected of modern emergency communications facilities.
Wold works with communities to test reuse and new construction paths side by side, modeling what it takes to meet 911 performance expectations in each scenario and clearly outlining capital costs, operational impacts and long-term implications. When existing facilities in Knox County, Illinois, could no longer meet 911 space and performance requirements, Wold completed a space needs assessment, evaluating multiple facility options. With Wold’s guidance, county leaders determined that redeveloping a portion of the county’s former jail was the most viable and cost-effective path forward.
Step 2: Design flexible layouts within reused buildings
Once a building meets feasibility requirements, the focus shifts to how effectively its footprint can support operations today and adapt over time. In many cases, layout is just as critical as square footage, and Wold’s design helps agencies maximize space where it’s needed most.
Operational demands, staffing levels, shift patterns, supervision needs and the requirements of multi-agency collaboration are all taken into consideration. Wold plans console setups, circulation paths, sightlines and infrastructure to support future growth and reconfiguration without disruption. For example, at the Jeffcom Dispatch Communications Center in Lakewood, Colorado, Wold reconfigured the dispatch floor within an existing building to consolidate eight public safety answering points, improve circulation and strengthen visual connections between agencies, while also expanding staff training and support spaces.
Strategic adaptive reuse can also help agencies extract additional value from existing space. Training rooms, conference areas and technology labs can be designed to convert into active dispatch positions during major incidents, increasing surge capacity without expansion. At the Arapahoe County Backup 911 facility in Littleton, Colorado, Wold designed a combined training and backup environment within a county administration building. The space easily converts into a fully equipped operations center during outages or surge events. This flexibility has allowed the county to maintain uninterrupted emergency communications during system disruptions.
Step 3: Prioritize dispatcher wellness by design
Facility decisions have a direct and lasting impact on telecommunicators, who work long, high-stress shifts. Adaptive reuse projects often require careful planning to balance hardened interior environments with access to daylight, views and restorative spaces. Wold works closely with agencies to define wellness priorities and translate those into spaces like break rooms, fitness areas or communal places, so dispatchers can step away briefly without leaving secure zones.
This approach reflects findings from Wold’s State of Community and Facility Design report, which highlights how specific design decisions influence safety, wellness and long-term satisfaction in public facilities. In Hamilton County, Ohio, Wold partnered with KZF Design to deliver an adaptive reuse 911 facility with a strong focus on employee health and wellness. The design incorporates daylighting, quiet recovery spaces and flexible break areas, helping telecommunicators manage high-stress shifts and maintain focus during emergencies.
Adaptive reuse can be an effective strategy for 911 centers, but it is not the right solution for every community.
Successful projects begin by clearly defining performance expectations: resiliency, capacity, flexibility and wellness. From there, communities can determine whether an existing building can meet those needs or whether new construction represents a more responsible long-term investment.
Wold has helped agencies nationwide evaluate reuse opportunities, identify when new construction is the better value and design 911 facilities that support both daily operations and large-scale emergency events. From early planning through design and implementation, Wold serves as a strategic partner, ensuring that the chosen path is realistic, resilient and aligned with community needs.
To explore whether adaptive reuse or new construction is the right approach for your 911 center, contact Wold’s government team.
