The Security Institute is a new $6 million, 37,000 square foot, two-story facility on the Western Iowa Tech campus.  Evolving out of a partnership between WITCC, the City of Sioux City, Woodbury County and the State of Iowa, the Institute has been tabbed as the model for emergency response, training and communication centers.   The state-of-the-art facility will provide emergency response and disaster management training programs, including medical, cyber crime investigation, network security and homeland security training.  The lower level houses the Woodbury County 911 Communications Center, and the Woodbury County/Sioux City Emergency Response Operations Center. The Operations center, with its wall of big screen displays and networked technology, is designed to function as a centralized emergency operations center for local, state and federal agencies during times of disaster and in the event of a large-scale catastrophe.  The lower level also contains the Long Lines’ Secure Data Center which supplies high security data storage.

Key Collaborators:      • L & L Builders      • EDA Inc.       • Neumann Monson Wictor Architects

The vast technology and electrical requirements for this project presented Thompson Electric Company the opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise as a trusted partner in the high security environment to help build this one-of-a-kind facility. We provided quality work, and coordinated with other trades to keep within the aggressive project schedule.             Our scope of work included complex cabling and power requirements including communications equipment, media center, training rooms, 911 operations, critical operations room, a 300’ communications tower, back-up generator, sound, power, lighting and various types of security systems. The Security Institute will maximize interoperability between first responders of local, tribal, regional and state public safety organizations and other disaster agencies in northwest Iowa, while providing critical training and contact with the community.  It has set a national standard for crisis management.