Material Best
In the nearly 10 years that since we launched Station Style, I’ve learned a few things about architects. I believe that architects and apparatus manufacturers have a lot in common. Both like challenging and unique projects. Both can wow you with designs they are fiercely proud of. And both need to be reminded of budgets.
I could come up with a much longer list, especially because fire stations and fire apparatus are big, long-term investments for a department.
Fire station design and construction has gained prominence in those years because of several significant trends in the emergency services profession as a whole. Exhaust removal systems and fitness rooms become standard in new fire stations, as have male and female toilet and shower facilities. Training options are being designed in to stations, as are separate areas for decon and laundry facilities. The next 10 years will see the incorporation of safe zones and micro-bacterial fabrics to restrict the spread infectious diseases.
During the call for presentations for the 2009 Station Style Conference, many architects responded with an array of topics involving the basics of designing a fire station. While basic, key programs are important, I always look for unique, useful programs and suggestions from previous attendees.
This year, we wanted a program on material selection for walls, floors, doors and the like. Candice Wong, AIA, LEED AP, RRM Design Group, really wanted to give a presentation that would tap her creativity and expertise, but agreed to take on the material selection program. She tapped Jim McClure, the San Jose Fire Department’s facilities captain, to help with her presentation.
Guess who got top marks for their educational presentation at the 2009 Station Style Conference. Wong’s handout was deemed “best of show.” E-mail Wong for a copy of the handout.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
My department is going to apply for a grant to get a new fire station. We can’t afford to pay an architect to design the station, and then sit on the designs if we don’t get the grant. How can we come up with an idea on how much the station will cost without paying an architect to design it? Can anyone reading this give some advice?
August 5th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
We were able to come up with a basic design through meetings with a firefighter committee. From there we had an archetect who volunteered preliminary drawings with close but generic prices for our grant. Most archetect companys, as was explained by our archetect, are looking for places to donate money for a tax deduction and our project happened to be our engineer’s/archetect’s donation. Our engineer also lives in our community and has his office in a different community. I’m sure that by doing this he is hoping we get the project and that he will be hired as the engineer/archetect for the project, which is where he will make his money. Some of these guys/gals will do this pro-bono to get work down the road.
Hope this suggestion helps for your next round.
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