The cost difference between command center desks and office furniture can be significant, which often leaves people questioning whether the price is worth it. Is there a difference? Rather than fitting a client’s needs into an existing product line, consoles allow for complex technology solutions designed with specific requirements.
In a 7×24 command and control environment, choosing operations center consoles over regular office desks is important for uninterrupted processes.
1. Purpose-Built for Mission Critical
Office furniture is mass-produced, built for a variety of markets that may not suit your needs. Command center consoles, on the other hand, are specifically designed to handle the day-to-day requirements of a mission critical environment. From technology requirements and the ability to accommodate multiple monitors to console strength and task lighting, custom operations center furniture is much better suited to fit your needs than pre-built desks. Constant Technologies custom designs, builds, and installs command center desks for each project individually, allowing additional factors such as sightlines, layout, and room size to contribute to the creation of your dispatch consoles.
2. Ergonomic Considerations
Nowhere is ergonomics more important than in command and control environments with long shifts and 24×7 coverage. Command center consoles can not only incorporate sit-stand capabilities, they also cater to more nuanced ergonomic details such as sightlines. In a mission-critical space, operators often have multiple screens in addition to a large video wall which they must be able to comfortably look at. As custom console designers, Constant conducts sightline analyses to determine the best setup of your console and monitors, as well as the ideal distance between the operations center desk and command center video wall.
3. Equipment Accommodations
From regular operations to critical events and responses, operations centers need a variety of technology to handle whatever incident occurs. Mission critical furniture is designed with the accommodation of various technologies in mind. Whether it’s the ability to mount multiple monitors or the space to house a number of CPUs within an enclosed module, a custom console can provide your operation with more of what you need. While standard office furniture typically is designed to house one PC and a couple of monitors, Constant’s consoles are not one-size-fits-all and can accommodate all your equipment needs for both utility and cleaner aesthetics. In addition, Constant can provide consoles with both front and rear-facing doors to allow access to critical equipment when maintenance is necessary. Louvered grills and exhaust fans assist in keeping equipment heat levels down.
4. Cable Management
Command center desks in a mission critical environment house an above-standard amount of technology; the ability to manage the numerous cables is key to keeping everything running smoothly. In both our fixed-height and sit-stand consoles, Constant makes clean and effective cable management a priority. Organization of cables in control room consoles is not purely for aesthetic reasons; mismanagement of cabling can cause crimping or other damage which may interrupt your vital operations.
5. High Durability
A key component of control room design is the incorporation of products that can withstand 24/7, 365 use. While operation center consoles can be a significant investment, they are built to withstand the test of time unlike pre-made office furniture. Constant’s custom command center furniture features hardy, high-pressure laminate finishes and an extruded urethane impact resistant waterfall edge designed to endure 24/7 wear. In addition, the substructure of Constant’s mission critical consoles is constructed with metal or high-strength aluminum rather than wood. Operation center desks from Constant come with a lifetime warranty, meaning that operations won’t need to be disrupted to replace broken-down furniture.
While pre-fab office furniture can be a tempting choice, in the world of mission critical choosing custom control room furniture pays off in the long run. Selecting furniture for your 24/7 operations center is a choice you should only have to make once, which is why Constant Technologies takes immense care in tailoring a furniture solution to your exact operational requirements. Contact us today to begin a design consultation.
About Constant:
Constant Technologies, Inc. is a premier mission critical systems integrator providing customized audiovisual integration of large scale operations center video walls and control center console furniture worldwide. With over three decades of experience, Constant’s team has the knowledge and clearance to work with sensitive environments in both the public and private sectors and has implemented turnkey solutions all over the world. Constant designs, installs and services projects of all scopes and sizes to create solutions with the highest levels of security, aesthetics and functionality in mind. Some of Constant’s installations include: EOC builds, Network Operations Center design, Fusion Centers, Security Operations Centers, Control Room Design, Social Media Command Centers, and other command and control environments.
