Commission authorizes design work for new Tennessee Emergency Operations Center and administrative building

The State Building Commission approved the Department of Military’s request to proceed with designer selection and early project work for a new Tennessee Emergency Management Agency operations and administrative building.

Major General Warner Ross, presenting for the department, said current TEMA operations are housed in a decades-old, underused facility in the basement of joint force headquarters that does not meet operational needs. Ross described a proposed 185,000-square-foot facility designed as a technology-enabled hub with a fully integrated emergency operations center, flexible meeting space and an auditorium for press briefings. The design also includes administrative space to relocate eight Army National Guard units and the Air Guard headquarters and staff, the presentation said.

Ross told commissioners the facility is intended to support statewide emergency coordination and resilience. The department said the project will also facilitate disposal of older armories across the state by enabling additional unit stationing in Davidson County. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the request to proceed with the process to select a designer and use a construction manager/general contractor alternative delivery method; the motion was adopted by voice vote.

No contract award or final construction appropriation was made at this meeting; the action authorized proceeding to designer selection and early project steps.