NLF&R District 1 DeLake Fire Station
Project Details
Completed in autumn 2009, this 4,600 SF station earned a 2010 Merit Design Award at the F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Symposium for its successful design solutions. The District has continually battled large maintenance requirements and repair costs with existing stations due to the harsh coastal climate. In response, the station's exterior envelope is composed of durable, non-corrosive materials to extend the building’s life cycle. The station is only in active use on a limited basis, thus the design incorporates the operation schedule into the use of fixtures, thermal zoning, and maintenance. Operable windows allow for user-controlled cooling and ventilation. Utilizing passive design strategies, the design team was able to create a self-sustaining building that will require very little maintenance. The shape and slope of the site presented design challenges. The layout successfully responds to the site constraints by tucking the station back into the deeper part of the site and utilizing back-in apparatus bays. This allows for adequate equipment maneuvering area and created space for a connecting drive aisle for volunteer and visitor parking.