The Southwest Central Dispatch Center serves communities in the southwestern Chicagoland suburbs and is designed to support dispatchers in their often stressful careers by promoting well-being and reducing stress.

The Center was designed and constructed to align with the WELL Building Standards, which support occupant health and wellness by focusing on design elements that improve comfort, reduce stress, increase alertness, and promote health. Some of those elements include:

Elements of biophilia woven into the design
Natural daylighting and tunable artificial lighting have been designed to support a healthy circadian rhythm
Outdoor break area for dispatchers to increase the amount of natural light they receive during a shift

Residential aesthetics help to both blend into the adjacent residential neighborhood and provide a comforting atmosphere for dispatch operators.

A communal break room designed with a dining/lounge space and kitchen where dispatchers can prepare and share a meal
A quiet room with a calming environment for decompression following stressful events
Fully adjustable ergonomic console stations that can be adjusted to meet the needs of individual dispatchers
Fully redundant building systems and weather-resistant design

Photo Credit: Connor Steinkamp, Steinkamp Photography

Southwest Central 911 Dispatch Facility

Supporting wellness through human-centered design.