The Operations center of Deep Space 9
An operations center (also known as Ops) is the command and control facility of a space station or outpost. It is the equivalent of the bridge of a starship.
Cardassian design
On Cardassian stations such as Deep Space 9/Terok Nor, the command center is a circular area located at the top of the main structure, with overhead windows giving a view of the stars and ships docked at the uper docking pylons. It contains, among other things, the commander's office, a turbolift, a transporter, and a viewscreen. The design is such that all present must look up to the commander's office and also isolates the commander to a degree; rather than a captain's chair, the station commander's "seat of power" is in what would otherwise be a ready room. (DS9: "Emissary")
The centralized nature of the operations center also means that, unlike most starships, in which primary controls are accessible from main engineering if desired, the operations center is the only location with such access. This makes it a prime target for hostile forces, particularly in Terok Nor's case, as the risk of a Bajoran revolt was significant. In order to minimize such risks, Ops can be sealed off from the rest of the station if necessary. (DS9: "Civil Defense")
Many functions that would otherwise be performed in main engineering can be performed in a "pit"-like area, located directly below the viewscreen. Among other things, this allows the commander to keep from showing signs of weakness, because crucial tasks can be performed out of sight during hails.
Ops also has a replicator.
Other designs
Other starbases and space stations have operations centers as well.
Background Information
The oval-shaped windows in Ops were occasionally seen on screen, but their placement is odd in that one would have to crane one's neck to look directly at them. Herman Zimmerman originaly wanted to have a moving starfield in the windows but later realized it was unnecessary. On most occasions, the windows on the set were used for lighting, camera positioning, etc.
Oddly, the turbolift in DS9's Ops is not fully enclosed as one might imagine; when lowering, it resembled an old-fashioned elevator, wherea a gate was pulled across the entrance but there was no doorway. It appears that the turbolift seals its doors after leaving Ops, given evidence seen in "The Forsaken" (DS9) and other episodes, where it is clearly sealed while in motion.