Storm Shelters

PLJBD's extensive experience in designing storm shelters demonstrates their expertise in adhering to FEMA regulations and tailoring solutions for various building types such as schools, businesses, and residential structures. Our proficiency with diverse construction materials—including CMU, cast-in-place concrete, and tilt-up concrete—ensures they can provide durable, compliant, and effective storm shelter designs that meet the specific needs of each project.

Joplin Elementary School Shelters

PLJBD successfully designed FEMA-compliant storm shelters for all Joplin Elementary Schools, ensuring each shelter met the highest FEMA standards for safety and durability, thereby providing reliable protection for students, staff, and surrounding communities during severe weather events.

  • The FEMA safe rooms also serve as gymnasiums / multi-purpose spaces with basketball & volleyball courts, bleachers, concession space, and P.E. office.
  • The FEMA safe rooms included over 90,000 S.F. added to eleven campuses.
  • Careful design and detailing allowed the new construction to blend well with the existing, and in some cases, historic character of the existing buildings. 

Seneca Intermediate School

  • This new 52,000 S.F. school, completed in 2010, includes 24 classrooms, media center, fine arts wing, cafeteria, and gym.
  • The 11,000 S.F. cafeteria/gym serves as a FEMA 361 approved community storm shelter.  The shelter is separated into the gymnasium space and the cafeteria space, divided by a retracting curtain.  The gym includes hardwood floors, basketball & volleyball courts scoreboards, and sound system.  The cafeteria allows food service for 350 students.

Junge Stadium Field House

Set next to a 90-year-old historic football stadium, the field house is a FEMA 361 community shelter that will serve as a football locker room and includes a large hospitality suite for hosting large competitive events.

 

This 10,500 S.F. facility is designed to complement the existing complex.  Built with brick and concrete block masonry, the building is designed to withstand 250 mph winds and provide tornado safe room accommodations for over 1’500 people.

Salvation Army EDS Building

  • This 4,300 SF building is designed to house the Salvation Army’s emergency relief equipment and vehicles.
  • The operation of this facility requires that the building structure be built fire and storm resistant. 
  • The building includes secure indoor parking for three vehicles, large open storage, secure storage, office, and conference space.