Not many people understand what fire departments really do these days. They see a fire station, big garage doors, and colorful trucks with lights and loud sirens. The ambulance parked inside is easy to figure out. Consequently, when you appear before your local leaders and community and ask for a new fire station, the response is typically, “What do you need that for?”
In the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, fire, rescue, and EMS departments quickly became the resource for all emergency calls that law enforcement didn’t handle. Fire departments responded to incidents involving suspicious packages and unidentified white powders. Frequent natural disasters required large-scale response and evolved into coordinated mutual aid box alarm systems (MABAS) and more USAR teams. Lately, active shooters required new training for law enforcement, but also fire, rescue, and EMS personnel.
With each new responsibility, fire departments are faced with the need for increased training and the storage of new equipment and supplies for a multitude of response scenarios.
The 2021 Station Design Conference presentations were selected to help fire chiefs, police chiefs, building committees and local leaders to understand what is required to build or renovate a facility to support the new responsibilities thrust on fire departments, but also to build a facility to stand for decades to come.
Opening the conference, Ken Newell, principal, Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects, sets the stage for what lies ahead in your journey to an effective facility for your department and community. Whether a first-time attendee or alumnus, you will learn from Ken Newell what you didn’t know you needed to know.
“Over the last century, the sea level at the Jersey Shore has risen twice as fast as the global average because the land there is also sinking.” [The New York Times, August 15, 2021]. Susan Gantt, AIA, Architects Design Group, and Fire Chief Peter DiMaria, Naples, FL, offer a perspective on rising sea levels and climate change. Their talk is not focused just on coastal areas, but natural disasters that will continue to occur across North America. How do you select a site for fire stations, police stations and Emergency Operations Centers to survive tornadoes, flooding, water surge, wildfires, and melting icebergs?
Trying to design a facility that will last 50-75 years is a daunting task. Tim Wiley, AIA, emersion DESIGN LLC, will explain in layman’s terms how to achieve the most energy efficient public safety facilities. Roy Conard, Philadelphia Department of Public Property, will describe how true sustainability reduces energy, resource consumption, but also reduces life-cycle costs.
Case Studies reveal the real story behind that beautiful fire station on opening day. West Bloomfield, MI, Fire Chief Greg Flynn will take you on a ride, complete with detours, on the journey to the opening of his department’s Station 3. Midland, TX, Fire Chief Charles Blumenauer and Justin Meyers, Martinez Architects, will share an approach to prototype design and how two fire stations, designed concurrently, resulted in dramatic variations of design solutions at each facility.
A couple of programs specifically focus on designing for the health and safety of your department personnel. This year, we offer a full track for law enforcement facilities and shared public safety facilities, along with almost 60 exhibitors of industry related products and services.
You have many choices when designing a new or renovated first responder facility. Do your homework. Take the time to learn from architects specialized in public safety, experienced fire chiefs with lessons learned, and how to keep department personnel healthy and safe.
The result of taking the time to research trends and innovations will help your department building committee and local officials learn why and how to build the most effective, healthy and long-lasting facility for your department, community, and the unknown future.
Janet A. Wilmoth | Special Projects Director
Janet Wilmoth grew up in a family of firefighters in a suburb of Chicago. Wilmoth, who is owner of Wilmoth Associates, worked with Fire Chief magazine for 27 years until it closed in 2013. She currently is the project director for Firehouse, overseeing the Station Design Conference.
