In Quarters: Harris County, TX, ESD No. 7/Spring Fire Station No. 75
This facility received a Combination Silver Award in Firehouse's 2019 Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.
Spring Fire Station No. 75 in Spring, TX, was a pre-existing station when the architect was brought in. Due to a mold infestation and inadequate space, the Harris County Emergency Services District (ESD) decided to construct a new facility to replace it. With the acquisition of the adjacent used car lot, it was decided that the new station would be located on the same site as the existing station. Harris County ESD No. 7 teamed up with a neighboring ESD to keep operations running off-site during construction. The design team’s focus centered on meeting the department’s parking needs, providing appropriate apparatus maneuverability, and meeting the programmatic requirements of the ESD on the limited site.
The new station adds much needed character to this commercial area by using traditional materials with a modern touch. In the completed 17,827-squarefoot facility, the design team created transparency within the building by exposing the structural skeleton, highlighting the structural components. A specialized acoustical roof decking was created specifically for this project to allow for open and spacious rooms without the typical sound reverberation issues in such spaces. The northern orientation of the building allows for seamless clerestory curtain walls to fill the public spaces with warm, natural lighting, while a new variable refrigerant flow HVAC system efficiently heats and cools the station. “Ceiling bridges” and fur-downs above private rooms were incorporated to hide the ductwork and conduits, leaving the large, open space streamlined and clean.
The interior showcases a large amount of reclaimed barn wood as wall accents, reinforcing the overall warm, inviting feel of the station’s public spaces. The new station provides all the additional space that the Spring Fire Department required with a modern touch.
Architect/Firm Name: Brown Reynolds Watford Architects, Inc.
