Photo © Albert Vecerka | Esto
Textured facades and a grassy berm help soften the boxy appearance of this high-security emergency facility in New York, designed by architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
The Public Safety Answering Center II, or PSAC II, occupies a prominent nine-acre (3.6-hectare) site in the Bronx – one of New York’s five boroughs. The building sits at the intersection of two major roads.
Intended to strengthen the city’s 911 emergency response system, the building serves as a back-up facility for a primary call centre. The centre houses workers from multiple city agencies, including the police department, fire department and emergency medical services.