Ottertail County Operations Center

The Ottertail Emergency Operations Center is a multi-use facility currently housing 34 county law enforcement staff in a location determined to be a complement to the Sherriff’ Office in Fergus Falls. This facility might just be the most sustainably designed law enforcement/ office campus in Northern Minnesota. In its emergency operations mode, it is designed to provide primary services to Otter Tail County in case of tornados, missing or abducted persons searches, crime investigations, or other situations. The facility also contains a backup dispatch center in the event that services are disrupted in the main office in Fergus Falls. A modern training room can seat 40 or more with the latest audio/visual equipment in place. A large heated garage is available for storage of rescue boats, automobiles and other law enforcement vehicles and supplies.

The Otter Tail County Board of Supervisors made a long-term commitment to “Sustainable Design” when directions were given to construct a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certified facility. This structure is the first LEED facility in Otter Tail and surrounding counties. The Boards instructions were to provide the most environmentally favorable and low operating cost building within reason.

Architects and designers started with tapping local groundwater sources for a highly energy efficient ground source heat pump heating and cooling system. Precast concrete sandwich panels provide the predominant wall system in the building shell. They provide a combination of high R-factor and thermal mass, minimizing energy demand, especially during cold winters. Masonry walls are well insulated and provide aesthetics and durability comparable to the decorative surfaces of the architecturally decorated precast walls.

Recycled and waste stream materials were used whenever possible, including flyash in all the concrete. In order to reduce impacts related to Urban Heat Island Effects, the structure was build with a white colored roof membrane. For the same effect, the parking lots were built with concrete in order to increase the albedo (reflectance) of the hardscape surfaces on-site. Except for a small area at the building entrance, all turf and plantings are low maintenance and native to the area. All stormwater from the 10 acre site up to the 100 year recurrence interval is captured to prevent releases to surface waters, including the recreational destination of Otter Tail Lake located less than one half mile from the facility.

Other facility features include automatic light dimming, low water usage plumbing fixtures, controlled harvest ing of daylight, and designated convenient parking stalls for pool/van parking in order to encourage carpooling and ridesharing. All materials were chosen to meet low VOC emission standards, with concrete in the floors and walls leading the way.

Use of concrete for the project made major contributions to maximizing LEED points. Together with effective energy efficiency, the concrete walls and roof use material diverted from landfills and use locally manufactured aggregate in the concrete mixes. Little waste was created in construction of the project. The concrete walls have very low air infiltration and thus, maximize air quality controls, require low levels of maintenance, have long term durability and aesthetics, provide exceptional strength to survive tornadic winds, and provide some of the best soundproofing. The concrete walls will resist wind driven rains and provide exceptional stability for doors and windows. The concrete will not support mold or mildew, and are insect proof. The concrete even has effective resistance to gunfire.

When the facts are reviewed, we find that very little more could be provided to provide a more “Sustainable Design” than in this project. Compliments to the project owner and the citizens of Otter Tail County for a project that will effectively serve its purpose as an institution should.