In Quarters: Lake Travis Fire Station No. 606

April 20, 2021
Lake Travis Fire Station No. 606 in Austin, TX, was built to help Travis County ESD overcome the limited number of water hydrants in the district.

This facility received a Satellite Bronze Award in Firehouse's 2020 Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.

Located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the Lake Travis area has grown rapidly, which necessitated the addition of the new Travis County ESD No. 6 Fire Station No. 606. However, finding an affordable site for the new station that has an acceptable amount of grade change would prove to be a challenge. Travis County ESD No. 6 worked with the civil engineer for months before finding a site that could be modified to provide a shallow enough driveway slope to accommodate apparatus. Careful design and a significant amount of cutting into the existing rock was required to overcome the 28-foot grade change across the site. 

The need for the station centered around the fact that there are a limited number of water hydrants in this part of the district, with some sections not having hydrants at all. Providing a station in this previously underserved area with a new 1,000-gallon capacity engine greatly will help firefighters to more aggressively attack fires even with their limited amount of water. 

Serving a more rural community, the department believed that it was important to include a treatment area in the public lobby for walk-up patients. Minor treatment can be provided, while the rest of the station that’s beyond the lobby remains secure for the safety of the staff.

The goal of reducing firefighters’ risk of exposure to carcinogens and contaminants led to the implementation of a MagneGrip direct capture vehicle exhaust system as well as to the utilization of airlocks and to locating bunker gear on the opposite side of the bay from the living areas. 

Using gabled rooflines, covered porches and local Austin limestone, Fire Station No. 606 proudly reflects the character of the surrounding community that it serves. 

Architect/Firm Name: Brown Reynolds Watford Architects.

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