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Ulster County has broken ground on a new Government Operations and 911 call center in New Paltz. The state-of-the-art facility, located on Paradies Lane near the New York State Thruway, will house the Department of Emergency Services, including the Emergency-911 Center, an Emergency Operations Center, and the Divisions of Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services.
The new center aims to enhance emergency response capabilities and improve the climate resilience of the county’s emergency management system. It will replace outdated facilities and is designed to operate under severe weather conditions and power outages. Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger highlighted the importance of the project, stating, "The new Emergency Communications Center is an essential investment in resilient emergency management infrastructure."
The 16,350-square-foot facility will feature energy-efficient designs, supported by a $2 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The design includes super-insulated walls, geothermal heating and cooling, and rooftop solar with battery backup. Additionally, a ground-mounted solar array will power the facility and other county buildings.
Congressman Pat Ryan expressed his support for the project, emphasizing its significance for public safety in the Hudson Valley. The construction team, led by Urbahn Architects, aims to meet New York State's NYStretch Energy Code 2020 standards for energy efficiency. The project is expected to streamline emergency response coordination and provide a dedicated quiet room for dispatchers to decompress after handling stressful calls.