Quick Facts about the Storm Hardened Tavernier Operations Center:

• Constructed by low bidder Overholt Construction Corporation, Miami
• Poured concrete - tilt wall construction
• Contract signed in October 2007 for $13,667,134
• Constructed on land already owned by FKEC
• 62,000 square feet
• Construction cost per square foot – approx. $215
• Like all capital and facilities projects FKEC undertakes, the funds for this new warehouse/office facility are not an additional or new item on electric bills but are being drawn from existing and future revenue.

The Tavernier Operations Center replaces four structures:

• Old metal warehouse: this warehouse was not hurricane rated and was sold and removed prior to construction (see demolition photos here).
• Oceanside administration building: this building was constructed in the 1950s and remodeled twice over the years, with the last major remodel occurring in 1985. It will be leased or sold.
• Fleet maintenance/operations/engineering building: this building was constructed in the 1940s to house the original generators powering Tavernier.  After the generators were removed the building was used for vehicle maintenance and as offices for operations and engineering personnel. It will be demolished in 2009.
• SCADA Center: this auxiliary building behind the Tavernier Substation was constructed in the 1960s.  The second floor was added in the early 1990s and until now was the only FKEC structure built specifically to withstand category 5 winds. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) department will move from this older structure into the new operations center but the older building will remain in use for long-term records storage, training and as a backup SCADA facility

Feb. 27, 2009 Aerial Photo by Aerial Photography, Inc.

• Large warehouse designed to protect bucket trucks and material  inside during storms.
• Entire structure elevated above flood level.  Base elevation of warehouse floor is 12 feet above sea level.
• Structure built of poured concrete, including the roof.
• Warehouse building reinforced to safeguard the materials necessary for restoration.
• Facility planned to operate in stand-alone mode for at least 72 hours.
• Adequate generation, fuel, water, food and food preparation facilities to operate for at least three days without outside assistance.
• Reinforced cafeteria/multipurpose room included in new operations center with an attached commercial kitchen to house and feed employees and any outside crews called in to assist.
• Additional flexible meeting space designed to house employees and outside crews after a storm if necessary

• High efficiency chillers in lieu of standard central air.
• Computer controlled A/C system.
• Reflective white roof membrane to reduce energy consumption.
• 30,000-gallon cistern for watering and truck washing.
• All rain water from roof channeled into cistern plus most condensation from air conditioning system.
• Louvered red "eyebrow" around exterior to direct natural light into the building while keeping direct sunlight out.
• Solar-assist water heating: four, 120-gallon units on roof.
• Coral rock mined from site and reused on front face of building and for front fence at minimal cost.
• Recycled building materials used where possible.
• Energy-saving cross ventilation system in the warehouse.
• Water-saving toilets with two flush settings.
• Waterless urinals.
• Master lighting controls to turn building lights off at night and on in the mornin

• Employees and member-consumers no longer have to cross U.S. 1.
• The Tavernier administrative offices and operations center are now under one roof along with member services, the drive-through window, engineering and consumer accounting.
• The facility combines all functions for greater operational efficiency, better member service and increased safety for consumers and employees