This facility received the Career 2 Notable Award in the 2021 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.
Royse City, TX, was presented with a unique building opportunity when a local brewery approached it about buying the city’s only fire station. Since the city intended to construct a new fire station and could support business in its community, it embraced the business deal. The transaction left the city operating its fire station out of a temporary location and required a fast-tracked design and construction for a new fire station.
The firefighters worked directly with the design team to program and plan a new facility. The planning phase quickly revealed that the new station needed to allow easy expansion, including additional dormitory space.
The team designed a station that has four four-person dormitories for the initial construction, with a plan to add five dormitories. One of the existing dormitories was equipped with the required plumbing to convert it to a future staff toilet when the city adds new dormitory space.
The building itself serves as a community resource. The public lobby allows access to a 25-person training room, with- out entering the station, for use by other city services and local groups. The kitchen is located close by for catering needs. It’s equipped with a combination of stainless steel and solid surface counters, full-height splashes, a serving bar, deep sinks, high-end appliances and individual shift lockers to accommodate cooking needs.
The facility was planned for short runs from the living and sleeping areas to the bays for quick deployment, and positively pressurized vestibules protect it from contaminants. There are three drive-through bays and one back-in bay. Bay spaces that lack an airlock are positively pressurized. Large exhaust fans (that are tied to the bay door operation), thermostats and carbon monoxide detectors manage vehicle exhaust and general bay ventilation.
Architect/Firm Name: Brinkley Sargent Wiginton (BSW) Architects
