Emergency Operations Center

Eleuthera, The Bahamas, 2011-ongoing

The greater community of South Eleuthera has recognized the need for an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) serving the region south of Rock Sound to provide critical emergency fire and medical services. The new facility will function not only as an EOC, but also as a community center and regional model for sustainable design and construction. In addition to the EOC, the site plan includes a shaded outdoor gathering space for vendors and events, a compost drop-off area, and a community garden all defined by plant beds of native and drought tolerant vegetation with stone walls. The building is intended to have bright colored walls, shade sails, and signage to announce the community structure from the road and encourage visitors to stop by when vendors are present. The building structure is designed with simple, cost-effective, and locally well known building practices, while utilizing new green materials and technologies in creative ways. Sustainable energy, ecology and water systems for the building and site have been developed for both functional day-to-day operations and emergency situations. The EOC building design follows the guidelines and recommendations for Island-wide environmental renewal as stated in the 2010 planning report “A Shared Vision For South Eleuthera“ created by Michael Singer Studio. The funding for the design was provided by the Jeffrey Cook Charitable Trust which carries the mission to “explore opportunities and responsibilities of the built environment and its interaction with the natural environment, in securing human sustainability and enhancement.” Nearly one half of the grant funds were utilized to purchase and transport a rainwater cistern tank from a nearby defunct resort for re-use at the EOC. The rainwater tank will supply water for emergency use, irrigation use during droughts and for the future community gardens. The project is in construction.

Artist / Designer: Michael Singer
Singer Studio Design Team: Jonathan Fogelson, Jason Bregman
and Brian Beaulieu at Colby Co Engineering
Project Manager: Shaun D. Ingraham, President of South Eleuthera Emergency Partners
Builder: Desmond Pratt
Architect of Record: Lester Carey
Project Partners: South Eleuthera Emergency Partners, The Jeffery Cook Charitable Trust,
The Cotton Bay Foundation, The Cape Eleuthera Institute