Blue Ridge Parkway Radio System Communications Centre opens doors
The new Blue Ridge Parkway Radio System Communications Centre has opened in North Carolina, US.
Developed by Asheville's Smart Builders, the 1,800 square feet centre comprises advanced law enforcement and emergency communication facilities. It will offer radio communications for the parkway and for Kings Mountain NMP, Mt. Mitchell SP, and the Veterans Administration Police Department. The building abides by Americans With Disabilities Act standards with installation of wide doorways, accessible restrooms, and workstations sporting desks. The workstations raise to standing or sitting height simply by pushing a button.
The facility imbibes a host of green features such as a high-performance and quiet split heating and cooling system. It has also been equipped with fluorescent lighting fixtures which run low on energy usage. Use of reclaimed flooring materials, locally-sourced products, as well as low-VOC paint add to its sustainability.
The project developer, in association with Mocksville-based Eco-Panels, LLC has also incorporated structurally insulated panel technology in the centre. These panels don an engineered wood outer skin while being filled with a half petroleum- and half organic-based foam which is partially made from sugar beets. The panels have the capacity to withstand tornado-force winds and offer a stronger and safer building envelope compared to a conventional building. They also provide better insulation and consume 70% less energy than stick-built homes.
The project has been financed by a $212,000 grant from Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and a $125,000 grant from National Park Concessions, Incorporation.
