September 11, 2001, drew attention to the need for compatibility within communications systems used by emergency responders. At the time, there were 50 different communications systems in St. Louis County alone. Reflecting on the events of that day, plans called for the emergency communications system for St. Louis County in Ballwin, MO to be consolidated and expanded to include adjacent counties and establishing an 800 MHz trunked radio network and systems data center.
St. Louis County took the opportunity to bring together the 911 dispatching center, emergency communications center and emergency management section all under one roof to further enhance the communications channels.
The 31,600-square-foot facility features strategically placed windows in the exterior wall, including windows in the 27-foot tall north wall to provide natural light and views. Winco architectural-grade pre-glazed window systems were utilized to provide the required tornado and impact resistance. The facility is designed to withstand 180-mph winds with an impact from a 15-pound 2x4 traveling at 100 miles per hour.
Winco Windows has continually developed products able to meet ever more rigorous demands to protect buildings and their occupants from natural or man-made disasters. They even built their own live blast test chamber and cannon to test newly-developed window systems because none existed when these high-performance windows were first being developed. Spectrem 2 Silicone Sealant and Tremco 440 Tape were incorporated in their design.
ExoAir 120 Fluid-Applied Air & Vapor Membrane served as the foundation for the air barrier system, providing a monolithic, seamless membrane which ensures continuous integrity without gaps. ExoAir 110 Self-Adhered Air & Vapor Membrane is used as a transition membrane into door and window openings. To achieve a holistic, continuous system throughout the building enclosure, Proglaze ETA Engineered Transition Assembly was incorporated to span the critical gap from the window to wall assembly.
The system also consisted of pre-engineered, Alodine-finished aluminum and silicone materials that are mechanically and/or attached with Spectrem 1 Silicone Sealant to window and/or wall structural framing, providing a more secure, durable connection and seal.
