New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster
Published 5:30 am Thursday, May 22, 2025
EVERETT — Help may start with a phone call, but now it also starts in a building built to withstand disaster.
On Wednesday, Snohomish County 911 began operating out of a newly renovated $67.5 million facility in Everett. The move brings together all 171 staff members — including dispatchers, technicians and administrators — under one roof for the first time in the agency’s history.
“This move represents more than just a new building — it’s a commitment to the future of public safety in Snohomish County,” Executive Director of SNO911 Kurt Mills said in a press release.
The space, a former Frontier Bank headquarters, includes two buildings. “Building B” houses all emergency dispatch services and is fortified as an “essential facility,” built to Risk Category IV standards — the highest level for seismic safety. To anchor the structure, engineers installed nine 40-foot micro-pilings, supported by bracing that allows the building to sway during an earthquake while keeping critical systems operational. The data center is equipped with a seismic isolation platform to prevent damage to essential equipment.
The facility also includes backup generators and ballistic glass — ensuring emergency operations continue during disasters or threats.
Crews spent recent weeks testing the systems and ensuring a smooth transition. They are also preparing to host training events, including an EMS symposium in June. A 70-person training center is among the new features.
SNO911 serves all 44 police, fire and EMS agencies across the county. The new space is designed for both growth and care — for the system and the people who operate it.
Dispatchers work long, high-pressure shifts. Mills said the new space aims to make that job more sustainable, with design elements intended to boost wellness and retention. Amenities include a gym, lactation rooms, quiet rooms, a cafeteria with a ping pong table, a massage chair, a rooftop deck and a full kitchen.
“You’re jammed in this room for a 12-hour period,” Mills said. “We want them to be as comfortable as we can make them.”
After a series of agency consolidations in recent years, the previous space left little room for expansion.
“We didn’t have room to grow,” Mills said. The new facility provides about 4,000 square feet of flex space to repurpose over time.
The building is expected to serve the region for the next 20 to 30 years.
“It’s more efficient, it’s more effective when people are in the same place,” Mills said.
Aspen Anderson: 425-339-3192; aspen.anderson@heraldnet.com; X: @aspenwanderson.
