March 2006

(Corpus Christi, Texas) – Zachry Construction Corporation has teamed with Moorhouse Construction (MC) to build a unique Public Safety Complex for Del Mar College (DMC) that will provide advanced training for law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical paramedic and Homeland Security professionals.

Del Mar College and the DMC Board of Regents broke ground for the new addition to the college’s West Campus in August 2005. “The Public Safety Complex is an exciting opportunity for Zachry and Moorhouse to be directly involved with Del Mar College and the Coastal Bend community,” said Project Manager David Haynie. “Because of the nature of the construction management at-risk method of contracting, ZCC / MC has been involved with the owner, coordinating architect and design team since the early phases of the project. Our early involvement in the areas of estimating, construction costs and project scheduling should prove beneficial to the long-term success of constructing a facility that will benefit the public safety needs of the area for generations.”

The new $11.5 million facility will house the Division of Business’ Department of Public Safety Education, which encompasses the DMC Regional Police Academy, the Emergency Medical Services Professions program, the Fire Science Technology program and the Occupational Safety and Health program.

The new complex will incorporate more than 35 training features, including a 47,000-square-foot classroom building; a training field with a burn tower; a burn residence with features addressing scenarios involving first and second floors and the roof, including living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, garage and a stairwell; a drafting pit; and a street system that will allow for emergency vehicle driver training and realistic scene approaches. Other features include a driving pad with multiple uses available for driver training for emergency medical service, fire and police instruction; propane elements to prepare Fire Science students for propane tank fires, impingement fires, car fires, pipe rack fires and leaks; a hazardous materials area with a hot zone training area, decontamination showers and a treatment area; a vehicle bay; a confined space for rescue simulations from cramped and restricted areas; and a “Hogan’s Alley” to conduct “shoot / don’t shoot” training.

<< Return to list of news stories >>