New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction has begun on the new Ulster County Emergency Communications Center (ECC), a state-of-the-art facility designed to centralize emergency services and boost the county’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to disasters while improving climate resilience.
Andron Construction is serving as general contractor on the project, which is being developed by a team led by Urbahn Architects as lead architect and The Palombo Group as construction manager.
Alfandre Architecture is consulting architect, while engineering and systems design are being provided by GPI (structural, civil, MEP), Cerami Associates (telecom, IT, AV, security), and NYSTEC (project consulting). Subcontractors include Perreca Electric for electrical systems, The YMI Group for mechanical and plumbing, and Merritt Construction for site work.
Located on Paradies Lane in New Paltz, the ECC will house the County’s Department of Emergency Services, including its 24/7 Emergency-911 Center, an Emergency Operations Center, and the Divisions of Fire and EMS. A specialized quiet room will be included to support dispatcher wellness.
“This is an essential investment in resilient infrastructure that will greatly enhance our emergency response capabilities,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “The ECC will replace outdated facilities that are too small and vulnerable to outages. We are also proud that this project supports local union labor and sustainable design.”
The facility is designed to meet NYStretch Energy Code 2020 standards, incorporating super-insulated concrete walls, geothermal heating and cooling, and rooftop solar with battery backup. A portion of the site will also host a ground-mounted solar array intended to supply 100% of the ECC’s power needs—and potentially power other county buildings.
Ulster County secured a $2 million NYSERDA grant to support the building’s energy-conscious design. A Project Labor Agreement is in place with the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, ensuring use of local labor and union contractors.
“Public safety is our top priority,” said Gina Hansut, Chair of the County Legislature’s Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee. “After more than two years of planning and preparation, this facility will provide the tools and space our emergency responders need.”
The County purchased the 57.3-acre site in May 2024 for $2.8 million—$200,000 less than the previously agreed price—after Metzger negotiated a reduction to account for environmental remediation costs under the NYS Brownfield Program.
The ECC’s New Paltz location was selected for its access to major highways (I-87, Routes 32 and 9W) and reliable infrastructure, including redundant power and fiber optic service.
The project is financed through an $18 million capital reserve established in the 2024 Executive Budget, funded from the County’s excess fund balance, which will save over $1 million annually in borrowing costs.
“Bringing emergency operations under one roof will greatly improve communication, coordination, and speed of response,” said Everett Erichsen, Director of Ulster County Emergency Services. “This is a generational investment in public safety infrastructure.”
