This station received the Shared Facilities Gold Award in Firehouse's 2015 Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.
Rochester Fire Station 2 was old, small and inappropriately located. The council agreed to build a new facility if the fire department included the police department’s PSAP and the emergency management department’s EOC.
The nine-acre relocation site was at the intersection of two major roadways. The city planned to sell the most valuable portions for retail use, so a new street was planned bisecting the property to enable development. The new road had to align with existing curb cuts, follow the roadway design guidelines, and avoid ravines. The only leftover parcel was a 2.44 acre steeply sloping site.
The north portion of the building serves as the public entrance and contains a museum, conference room, and restroom.
There are four drive-through apparatus bays, an EMS supply depot, the arson evidence room, and a specialty shop that conducts hose/ladder testing. For peace and quiet, the living spaces face away from the future retail. The eat-in kitchen and patio have dramatic southeast views. There are four firefighter and two officer dorm rooms with windows opening onto a wooded area.
The steep topography allows a separate lower-level entry for the access restricted EOC and PSAP. Since the EOC will be used for cty training when not activated, access is restricted between the levels without impeding emergency egress.
The station is planned to house firefighters fresh from the academy, so it includes many training features for continued learning. There is study space in each bunk room. A five-story tower contains rappelling tie-offs inside and out, roof access, windows at the second through fourth floors, removable railings, stair runs with removable treads, a manhole, and a standpipe with sprinkler head. A mezzanine off the tower provides access to a balcony, doors to the apparatus bay for drills during inclement weather, and space for obstacle props.
Architect: BKV Group
