Facility and Equipment

Facility Overview

The Valley Communications Center facility was constructed in two phases with initial work starting February, 2001. The facility was accepted as substantially complete in May, 2002. Occupied by administrative and technical support staff beginning in March, 2002, the 9-1-1 operation went live at the new facility at 0400 (4 am) on Sunday, June 23, 2002. This 24,000 square foot communications center is designed to meet the needs of emergency services dispatch and call answering for the next twenty years.

Secure & Built To Last

Monitored and controlled by a state of the art security system, Valley Com is a secure facility that is not open to the public. Video surveillance, electronic access control, and building alarms make the facility extremely safe.

Because Valley Com is a critical public safety facility it was constructed to meet Zone 4 seismic standards. This standard basically dictates that a facility must be constructed to withstand a 7.5 earthquake for 60 seconds. Built with a wood frame, the building is flexible enough to bend and sway with the quake, but not lose its structural integrity or stability.

As the design and construction phase progressed, it was recognized that good planning made for a solid future. Valley Com was designed and built to be a twenty year facility. With plenty of room for growth and expansion the facility will take care of the citizens and public safety professionals it serves well into the future.

Location...Location...Location

Valley Com was built in rural south King County. Knowing the seismic vulnerability of the valley floor, it was constructed on solid ground atop the east side of the valley. At 24,000 square feet the building houses all the necessary technology to keep it running. The building is completely self sufficient and can run for weeks without any commercial power available.