AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Texas A&M University System officials gave their approval Thursday to a new state emergency operations complex to be built near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The $370 million complex will provide a new headquarters for the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and a new state Emergency Operations Center.
“This project will allow TDEM to consolidate its staff and coordinate statewide emergency response efforts from a single location,” said A&M System Chancellor John Sharp. “Right now, TDEM staff are scattered across multiple locations and in rented office spaces.”
The $370 million project total includes $9.7 million for land acquisition and just over $360 million to build the 295,978 square foot facility, which includes a five-story office building and the EOC.
“With this investment by the Legislature and the support of the Governor and Board of Regents, Texas will increase its capabilities to better prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate against any disaster we face,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “Communication and coordination are cornerstones of emergency management, and our new facilities will provide TDEM and our emergency management partners with the space and technology to more effectively serve our communities across Texas.”
The current State Operations Center in Austin was originally constructed in the 1950’s in an underground 13,855 square-foot bunker and the 70-year-old facility is no longer suitable to support emergency response operations for a growing state.
Construction is set to begin this month, with substantial completion expected in August 2026.
