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Net Zero Emergency Operations Center & Fire Communications Facility – Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara, CA
Industry: Government & Municipal
Project Type: Energy, Mechanical, Plumbing

Santa Barbara County Emergency Operations Center & Regional Fire Communications Facility

BMA Mechanical+ provided mechanical engineering for the 10,676 SF expansion of a regional emergency communications hub supporting 24/7 dispatch operations for fire and emergency medical services across Santa Barbara County. The all-electric facility consolidates multiple agencies into a secure, high-performance dispatch center designed to meet the County’s Zero Net Energy Ordinance.

The design prioritizes resilience and continuous operation. Fully redundant HVAC systems, UPS-backed infrastructure, and flexible mechanical systems support critical dispatch, server, and coordination spaces, allowing the facility to scale during major incidents while maintaining occupant comfort and system reliability.

Client: County of Santa Barbara
Value: $17.9M
Size: Building Expansion: 10,676 SF

Net Zero + Wildfire Resilience

  • 288 kW solar PV array offsets annual energy use
  • All-electric design eliminates fossil fuels
  • Advanced daylighting reduces lighting loads
  • Non-combustible envelope with Rockwool insulation and terracotta cladding
  • Bipolar ionization filtration and outside-air shutoff for smoke protection

Collaborative Delivery

  • Close coordination between County, architect, and engineering team
  • Integrated design approach aligning energy, resilience, and operational goals
  • Early collaboration ensured performance targets were achieved without compromising reliability

Industry Engagement

  • Participated in the Santa Barbara Wildfire Resiliency Forum
  • Featured in a Net Zero Building Tour of the facility
  • Shared engineering strategies and system design insights with industry professionals

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