New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster
EVERETT — Help may start with a phone call, but now it also starts in a building built to withstand disaster.
On Wednesday, Snohomish County 911 began operating out of a newly renovated $67.5 million facility in Everett. The move brings together all 171 staff members — including dispatchers, technicians and administrators — under one roof for the first time in the agency’s history.
“This move represents more than just a new building — it’s a commitment to the future of public safety in Snohomish County,” Executive Director of SNO911 Kurt Mills said in a press release.
The space, a former Frontier Bank headquarters, includes two buildings. “Building B” houses all emergency dispatch services and is fortified as an “essential facility,” built to Risk Category IV standards — the highest level for seismic safety. To anchor the structure, engineers installed nine 40-foot micro-pilings, supported by bracing that allows the building to sway during an earthquake while keeping critical systems operational. The data center is equipped with a seismic isolation platform to prevent damage to essential equipment.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/new-911-center-in-everett-built-to-survive-disaster/