Project Summary
Southeastern Community College (SCC) is located in an area with the highest wind speed risk in the United States. The college had long relied on windowless interior rooms as its protection against severe weather. They also needed a meaningful multipurpose space to serve its students, staff, and surrounding community, all within a constrained capital budget.
SCC worked with Klingner to begin exploring solutions. When FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding became available, the team seized the opportunity to address both needs in a single, cohesive facility.
The result is a state-of-the-art, 11,000 SF safe room and multipurpose event space that provides near-absolute protection from EF5 tornadoes and 250 MPH winds. Capable of sheltering 1,530 occupants, it serves the campus community, the adjacent Des Moines County Fairgrounds, and other areas within a 5-minute radius. Instead of a windowless concrete bunker, the team designed the facility as an airy, light-filled space that weaves life-safety technology seamlessly into daily campus life. Insulated precast concrete walls and double tee roof panels are rated for wind pressure loads exceeding 400 PSF. A dual-function coiling steel door, certified to withstand 252 PSF and three hours of fire exposure, separates the multipurpose space from the host building. EF5-rated, impact-resistant windows with 2″-thick glazing offer passive protection without the need for manual shutters, and emergency access is available for pedestrians.
The facility accommodates athletic practices, career fairs, graduations, community events, and more, with locker rooms, a dedicated officials’ dressing room, and two large storage rooms. A backup generator powers lights, ventilation, and electrical receptacles for two hours following a severe weather event.
Delivering the project required navigating several challenges. Poor soil conditions called for auger cast piles extending 35’ deep and helical piers near the adjacent building. Mid-design transitions to updated ICC 500 (2020) and FEMA P-361 (2021) standards required extensive product research, as third-party testing for many materials remained incomplete. COVID-19 supply chain disruptions added 6-12 month manufacturing delays, and a proactive six-month grant extension kept the project within its Period of Performance. Throughout, Klingner maintained close communication with SCC and the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, holding regular design progress meetings and advocating for the client from design through construction closeout.
Dedicated to Rev. Dr. William Amos “Booker” Smith Sr., SCC’s first Black graduate from 1931, the safe room stands as both a critical life-safety asset and a celebrated hub of campus life. It is a testament to what thoughtful, client-focused engineering can accomplish: transforming a safety requirement into a lasting, welcoming resource for students, faculty, staff, and the broader West Burlington community. About the structure, SCC’s President Dr. Michael Ash said, “This space is more than just a building. It’s a place of empowerment – a space for students to connect, grow, and build community.”
