Austin area evacuation center will double as events venue

A new 45,000 sf FEMA-operated evacuation shelter in the Greater Austin metropolitan area will begin construction this fall. The center will be available to house people in the event of a disaster such as a major hurricane and double as an events venue when not needed for emergency shelter.

The Caldwell County Evacuation Center will house up to 350 people comfortably within its main hall. Supply trucks can deliver necessities to the back of building which includes designated office space to accommodate FEMA operations and a warming kitchen where food will be served. Overlooking the sweeping natural landscape, an elevated outdoor patio and adjacent interior concourse will function as a breakout space for events and a provide outdoor connectivity for evacuees.    

Warm tones and wood accents will be incorporated throughout to combat the stale environment often seen in evacuation shelters. Elevated fixtures and details will be included in the restrooms such as floor-to-ceiling partitions between each stall and individual shower rooms for an increased sense of privacy and space. Families seeking shelter with young children will also have three designated mothers’ rooms to choose from for nursing and pumping, as well as extra changing tables in both the women’s and men’s restrooms.  

Extra charging outlets will be deployed in the corridors and common spaces to help decrease congestion in the main hall and encourage evacuees to explore alternative spaces with natural light and outdoor views. Acoustic measures in the ceiling and wall panels will be integrated to help mitigate noise throughout the building, not only for functional purposes but also to reduce overstimulation when the building is at capacity.

The facility is likely to host residents of coastal areas of the state during hurricane emergencies. Damaging hurricanes have become more common in Texas, with eight of the 10 most active years occurring since the mid-1990s. These storms have impacted thousands of coastal area residents. Hurricane Harvey, for example, displaced approximately 32,000 people in shelters across the state. Inland areas such as the Austin metroplex can provide temporary shelter for these residents.

Owner and/or developer: County of Caldwell
Design architect: Method Architecture
Architect of Record: Method Architecture
MEP Engineer: IMEG
Civil Engineer: Doucet, a Kleinfelder Company
Structural Engineer: IMEG
Landscape Architect: Coleman & Associates
Grant Administrator: Langford Community Management Services
General Contractor: N/A