GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY

Operations Center

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Context Design Group had designed the 56,000 SF New Operations Center for Georgia Ports Authority in Savannah, Ga. The facility is situated on a site located behind the ports and adjacent to the existing port facilities. The exterior character of the facility is designed to allow for the overseeing of the ports by the operators and to provide energy-conserving features such as hurricane shutters and sun shades. Context Design Group met with port employees at all levels of the organization to develop an overall program for the facility prior to beginning design activities. With the use of a program approved by the port executives, Context Design Group developed a conceptual design based on the organizational layout and to provide an image of the facility.

The Operations Center is designed to house the port operations’ departments (Container and Ship Operations) along with a cafeteria, locker space, and health services.  The first level of the facility is developed to hold the common functions such as the cafeteria, lockers, meeting space, secured entry/lobby, employee training, and mechanical/electrical.  All entrances are secured through the use of vestibules and fencing.  The second level is to act as a space to be developed for future port use or leased tenant space.  On the third level are the administrative functions of the Container and Ship Operations which is organized to oversee the ports and to be centralized around the War Room and Operations’ Control Center.

The building is designed to be comprised of a steel frame with cast stone veneer, metal cladding, and energy-efficient glazing. The interior incorporates the use of the latest materials with a mixture of private and open office functions. The facility’s site is designed with POV parking with fencing to provide security to the employee parking and secure access to the ports.