In Quarters: Aberdeen, MD, House One

This facility received the Renovations Bronze Award in the 2021 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

The central station for the Aberdeen, MD, Volunteer Fire Department underwent extensive construction to modernize the aging station. The design focuses on improving response time, mitigating exposure to carcinogens, supporting responder health and wellness, expanding community engagement and enhancing training. Prior to the renovation, the station served the community for nearly 50 years; now it stands ready for 50 more. The final results exemplify best design practices and reflect the department’s commitment to responder health and wellness.

The 10,800-square-foot apparatus bays received a complete modernization, consisting of door, lighting, flooring, alerting and mechanical upgrades. A new four-story drill tower flanks the end of the bays, to provide training opportunities to crews to hone their skills while they remain in service. The station’s previous, dilapidated living and operations portion was demolished to accommodate 20,500 square feet of new construction.

Features of the addition include a new multipurpose training room that can accommodate at least 100 people, individual bunk rooms, a fitness center, a kitchen and offices. Serving as the central station for Aberdeen, the lobby is home to historic apparatus and memorabilia that celebrate the department’s 100-year history. Natural daylight fills nearly every occupiable room of the building through windows and clerestory dormers. The exterior materials and form were selected to comply with the city’s architectural design requirements.

The design provides first responders with safe and efficient access to their gear and equipment. The apparatus bays are separated, both physically and mechanically, from living areas of the station, to mitigate the risk of exposure to contaminants. Clearly delineated “one-way” response paths lead responders directly to apparatus from the rooms that are occupied most frequently; innovative transitional decontamination space that has sinks, showers and walk-off mats creates a natural flow for responders to reenter the clean zones of the station and return to service.

Architect/Firm Name: Manns Woodward Studios