Architectural Design Services for Century Community Shelter - CDBG-DR HS020

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking qualifications from Professional Architectural & Engineering Firms to provide Professional Design and limited Construction Administration Services for a new Community Multi-Purpose Facility and Evacuation Shelter in the Town of Century, Florida (Town). The project will include retrofitting, hardening, and elevating structures and critical facilities mitigation activity. The Town currently does not have a shelter facility that is built to withstand hurricane force winds leaving its residents to "shelter-in-place" or drive to the closest shelter located in West Escambia County.

The project will occur within the Town at the old Century High School Gym building located at 720 East Hecker Road. The County has acquired the old Gym building and now intends to demolish as needed, and build a new multi-purpose facility and evacuation shelter for the residents of Century, Florida. The facility will provide critical sheltering services during disaster events as well as support services such as food, water, and supplies to the community. The facility will also be a location for the dissemination of recovery information and community health updates.

In September 2020, Hurricane Sally was responsible for dumping between 12” and 24” of rain between September 14th through September 17th in north Escambia County. Tropical force winds lead to widespread wind damage including downed power lines, trees and debris. Many residents in and around the Town of Century were without power for several days following landfall. Historically, storms that have hit northwest Florida brought hurricane force winds, spawned tornados and caused substantial wind damage and flooding.

The Town of Century also experienced widespread damage to their residential neighborhoods and housing stock when an EF-3 tornado hit the Town on February 15, 2016. A survey conducted by Escambia County following the tornado identified 81 homes within the Town limits that were damaged or destroyed. Many of these homes belonged to low-to-moderate income people who lived in substandard housing and were in immediate danger during the storm.

Escambia County received a CDBG-DR Grant to build an emergency shelter that can be used as a multi-purpose facility as well. By building an emergency shelter, the Town of Century can provide the residents with a safe and secure facility, thereby increasing resilience to disasters and reducing, or eliminating, the long-term risk of loss of life, suffering and hardship while also enhancing the protection of its citizens. Escambia County and the Town of Century will work with local non-profit youth organizations to use this facility as a way to encourage youth participation in sports.