Eco-friendly Fire Station to Open in Oklahoma
Aug. 04--NORMAN -- The carpet backing is made of recycled plastic bottles. Lighting is powered by the sun. Geothermal pumps use the constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool the building.
These are just some of the eco-friendly features of Norman's newest fire station, set to open later this month at 3001 Alameda St. on the city's east side.
On the outside, the building is cream-colored native stone and red brick, but on the inside it's as green as you can get, Deputy Fire Chief Jim Bailey said.
"I'm not one of those people who gets all excited just because you call something green. Nothing against tree-huggers, but I'm not one of them. But if it's green, and it translates to saving money, I'm all for it," he said.
In the long run, the new station at 3001 Alameda St. is expected to save the city thousands of dollars in energy costs, and its construction is so sturdy and sustainable it will outlast traditionally constructed stations by decades, Bailey said.
The station also may turn out to be the busiest in the city once it's up and running, Bailey said.
The 15,149-square-foot building will house one engine company initially but is designed for and eventually will house two companies.
The station will answer calls currently being taken by three other fire stations, Bailey said.
Once it's open, emergency crews' response time on the east side will be measurably better, the deputy chief said.
Fire Station No. 9, as it will be known, is the city's second LEED-certified fire station. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a benchmark for construction by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Fire Station No. 8 on the city's northwest side was the first LEED-certified station not only in the city but in the state.
It received national recognition in 2011 when it was awarded a gold-level certification for its environmental and energy-saving features.
Kirkpatrick Architecture Studio, based in Denton, Texas, with a branch office in Norman, designed both stations. The firm has been recognized nationally for its expertise in LEED designs and construction.
Construction manager John Lester, with Atlas General Contractors of Oklahoma City, said Fire Station No. 9 is his first LEED project.
"It's different than a normal project, with more attention to detail. It's been educational," he said.
Signs posted outside the station warn his construction crews: "Business as usual won't suffice here."
Lester says it's a reminder that rules and regulations apply.
Crews can't eat, drink or smoke on the premises, and nothing gets done without him making sure it meets LEED standards.
More than 80 percent of the waste from the construction site has been or will be recycled, saving tons of stuff from being dumped in a landfill, Bailey noted.
"Everything to do with the project is designed to save energy, water or waste and improve air quality," he said.
Everything also is designed to be sustainable and low maintenance, Bailey said, with such features as super-insulated exterior walls, polished concrete floors that require no buffing or waxing and landscape plants that are drought-resistant and require little to no watering.
The $3.7 million station is being paid for with voter-approved public safety sales tax dollars.
Copyright 2013 - The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City