[2][11] As the office in the World Trade Center was severely damaged, OEM was temporarily housed at Pier 92 of New York Passenger Ship Terminal on Manhattan's West Side.

The $50 million project, funded by the federal government, called for the fifty-year-old building to be completely gutted and outfitted with the latest in audio-visual and communications technology.On December 5, 2006, Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined OEM commissioner Joseph F. Bruno, former OEM directors Richard Sheirer and John Odermatt, NYCEM personnel, and a host of other dignitaries to unveil the agency's new state-of-the-art headquarters.

[14][15] It contains general offices for NYCEM staff, several conference rooms, the Joint Information Center (a press corps composed of press officers from several city agencies who disseminate information to the public), a state-of-the-art media briefing room, Watch Command, and the city's Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Watch Commanders also have access to New York City's 911 systems and are responsible for alerting local, state, and federal officials of emergencies.

They maintain direct contact with the New York State Emergency Management Office and surrounding jurisdictions to lend support or aid if needed.

The EOC serves as a central clearinghouse where local, state, and federal agencies can gather to assess and respond to a number of emergencies.

The new structure also has the distinction of being New York City's first “green” agency headquarters utilizing energy-saving and environmentally sound construction techniques.

According to Commissioner Bruno at the unveiling ceremonies, “New York City is at the forefront of emergency management planning and this new facility will continue to move us forward.”[17] NYCEM has shipping container based modular temporary post-disaster housing units for evaluation next to its headquarters.