The project: The state-of-the-art, 18,740-sf Fire Station #3 includes a two-story apparatus bay housing three fire fighting vehicles, a full kitchen, dining area, TV and gaming lounge, bunk rooms, outdoor roof terrace, and multifunctional storm shelter that doubles as an emergency operations center and meeting room.

The goal: Prioritize safety and well-being for firefighters, promote efficient response time through a simple design layout, and meet the owner’s sustainability goals.

Sustainable features: To meet the EUI target of 20 to 40 btu/sf/year, the design includes energy recovery ventilation and LED lighting.

Challenge: Minimize exposure to fire and ash carcinogens. Solution: High-risk areas in and near the apparatus bay are separated from the living and public spaces with air lock vestibules and decontamination areas to protect both firefighters and the public.

Challenge: The combination storm shelter and community room required proper ventilation. Solution: The team designed dedicated HVAC systems.

Challenge: The three-story training stair connects to the living areas and the apparatus bay. Solution: Engineers prioritized noise abatement and air isolation in these spaces.

The outcome: The fire station provides a safe and efficient space for fire fighters and municipal operations through thoughtful and sustainable design. The facility was designed for five full-time firefighters with room to expand to nine.