Construction is underway for a new Public Safety Communications (PSC) building in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Wold Architects & Engineers, a national architectural and engineering firm with extensive emergency communications center expertise, designed the facility to meet current and future needs for 911 operations, while also supporting employee wellness and advancing the county’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). The 34,000-square-foot building will replace the existing communications center and is anticipated to be completed by late 2026.
The PSC building will house expanded emergency telecommunicator spaces, as well as administrative offices, training areas and technology support functions. The design incorporates increased natural daylight, biophilic materials, calming color palettes, ergonomic workstations and flexible break areas to support the physical and mental health of dispatchers, whose work is essential in emergency response.
Wold’s design team also helped the County reduce energy use and cut greenhouse gas emissions with features like solar shading, south-facing orientation of windowless spaces and expanded daylighting to reduce reliance on artificial systems. To achieve ultimate energy efficiency, the building’s exterior envelope assemblies are designed to exceed baseline energy code requirements.
The future-ready center will include full electrification to eliminate reliance on natural gas, along with modular, heat recovery chillers connected to a geothermal well field for the primary heating and cooling source and on-site solar arrays to help offset the facility’s energy usage. Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will also be installed for both staff and public parking areas.
Once complete, the facility will strengthen Dane County’s emergency response capabilities while setting a new benchmark for sustainable, people-centered public safety facilities in Wisconsin and nationwide.
