How to Take Advantage of Virtual Reality for Your Emergency Operations Center Furniture Design

Emergency operations center furniture is not a “get it and forget it” proposition. You can’t order a slew of mid-range stools, chairs, and desks and hope they’ll work out in a 24/7 control room setting. Specialty furniture is a must when you’re talking about an EOC facility that handles emergencies and functions around the clock. Designing it specifically for your needs is a great way to ensure you have the right furniture for the job and your staff.

The Importance of the Right Emergency Operations Center Furniture

Unlike a corporate setting, a control room requires a different focus on workstations and seating. There are some things this furniture needs to have that aren’t necessarily important in other work environments.

• Functionality – Employees in an emergency ops center need to be able to access their workstations, tools, other staff members at a moment’s notice.
• Ergonomics – Operators will often have to work in the same spot for hours at a time, without a break. Hence, ergonomic design is vital.
• Comfort – Everyone wants to work in a comfortable environment. Emergency operations personnel are no exception. Comfort increases productivity and job satisfaction
• Durability – A control room that functions 24 hours a day, seven days a week needs equipment that can stand up to the task. Equipment durability is key.
• Aesthetics – Functionality might be the priority, but aesthetics are also important to a well-designed and fully functional control room.

What Does Furniture Have to Do With Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality is a reality, in more ways than we might imagine. Did you know that you can take advantage of virtual reality in the furniture design process? When you’re deep in the planning of your control room and furniture design is on the table, it can be hard to visualize exactly what you need. Similarly, it can be hard to visualize how it should function and what the design should entail.

Virtual reality offers a whole new way to create the EOC furniture you need. It gives you the opportunity to have a different understanding of the space and the best way to bring it all together. You’re able to “walk” around virtually to see it from all angles. This allows you to make decisions that will help build the center you need. You can also tweak the design as you go. This isn’t just for the space itself but also for the dispatch console furniture that’s going to house your staff who make the center work.

Don’t settle for a wait-and-see approach. Take advantage of virtual reality in your emergency operations center furniture design. Contact our team at Fountainhead Control Rooms.