Ground was broken October 28, 2003 for the new $4.6 million Emergency Communications Center at the corner of Robert S. Kerr & Shartel.

The center was not on the original list of projects to be funded with the Public Safety Capital Improvements temporary dedicated one-half cent sales tax approved by voters on March 14, 2000.

But in March, 2002, City Council voted to add it, agreeing that the $4.6 million project was a public safety capital investment consistent with the overall purpose of the temporary dedicated sales tax.

The new center is about 25,300 square feet. It includes a locker room, conference room, training area and situation room, as well as a full kitchen and day area. The center houses both police and fire dispatchers – who previously worked from separate facilities – and serves as the hub of the City's trunked radio system.

The building is designed to withstand F5 tornadoes and straight wind gusts up to 250 mph.

The building was designed by Robison & Associates Architects of Oklahoma City and Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern, Inc. of Virginia Beach, Virginia.