In public safety communications, long hours and staggered shift schedules require a work environment that fosters both efficiency and comfort. In Calgary, a new public safety communications centre has been built around both of these important factors. "In 2003, we began working to move and integrate Fire, Police, and EMS communications into one facility," says Bruce Day, a past superintendent of Calgary EMS and current member of the Public Safety Communications Centre (PSCC) design team. "We realized this would be a major adjustment for staff, and since we were building the PSCC from the ground up, we wanted to directly involve them in the development process."

This meant consulting employees on the selection and design of everything from lounge chairs and carpet colours to the console units where most of their work will take place. "We were particularly pleased with how the consoles turned out," says Day. "Our fifty new units were selected with input from 121 staff evaluations through on-site testing of prototypes." The console prototypes were initially created from general specifications provided by a team of employees and consultants. This diverse group included an ergonomist, a furniture designer, an environmental consultant, and a purchasing agent, as well as technical and operational staff from Fire, Police, and EMS.

From the team's specifications, an Expression of Interest (EOI) document was created in early 2004 and then posted and circulated to manufacturers. A total of twelve vendors responded to the EOI. "The submissions were evaluated in detail, and the two short-listed vendors were asked to provide working models to be tested by staff from each of the communications centres," says Day.

When the tabulation of the evaluation scoring was complete, Bramic Creative Business Products was selected as the preferred vendor. However, the design process wasn't over yet. During the testing phase, Fire, EMS, and Police employees outlined three items they felt were particularly important: completely independent monitor and keyboard decks, speed of deck motors, and increased desk space.

Together, changes were adopted and the evaluation team determined that the Bramic console met the requirements set by staff. The contract was awarded, and Calgary's PSCC was the first centre to take delivery of Bramic's Marathon 6 console.

"The entire process from concept through evaluation, vendor selection, and installation spanned a time frame of about eighteen months," says Day. "The consoles have now been received and installed, and everyone who has visited the centre has been very impressed with the product."

The final test of the consoles and the facility itself, however, will happen in January 2006 when employees begin working out of the new facility. "We are confident that our research, planning, and staff engagement will pay off when we go live in January," says Day. "It is a real achievement that will be celebrated by everyone who was involved."

Cameron Heke, BAC, is a communications specialist with the City of Calgary's Community Services and Protective Services.