The Summit Emergency Communications Center consolidates emergency dispatch operations for the Summit County Council of Governments while providing a dedicated co-location for the City of Akron's dispatch center. The 35,000-square-foot facility includes Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), an Emergency Operations Center, training rooms, administrative offices, and the Summit County Radio Shop, with the flexibility to support additional municipalities as the regional partnership continues to grow.

AVID Architects provided planning, architecture ,engineering, and project management services, coordinating the specialized operational needs of multiple public safety agencies within a single facility. The City of Akron's dispatch center was tailored to its specific operational requirements while integrating with the regional communications center, allowing multiple jurisdictions to operate independently under one building.

The project presented multiple opportunities for added value, including the use of a code-required tornado shelter as the dispatch training center. Rather than dedicating valuable square footage to an infrequently occupied safe room, AVID designed the space to support daily training while ensuring dispatch staff can relocate and maintain emergency operations during severe weather events. This dual-purpose approach maximizes the building's efficiency while reinforcing the uninterrupted emergency response capabilities the region depends on.