In Quarters: West Chester Township, OH, Fire Station #73

This facility received the Satellite Bronze Award in the 2022 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

West Chester Township Fire Station #73 is a new satellite station that serves the industrial area of the southwest portion of the township. The facility is staffed with four personnel and is designed to accommodate future growth of as many as six members. The station’s design blends into the surrounding industrial area, while the bold, red, four-fold apparatus bay doors identify the building’s purpose as a firehouse.

The entry to the station includes a secured vestibule, with sight lines from the reports room. A watch office has open views of the bay area. The communal living area includes a dayroom, a fully equipped kitchen that has three refrigerators and pantries, a dining area and a large fitness room that has windows for visual safety. The sleeping quarters boast private bunkrooms and showers and are buffered from common areas with highly insulated walls (STC 53) and doors to minimize noise disruptions during critical sleep time. Additionally, each bunkroom features double-sided, pass-through lockers, which allow firefighters to access their belongings without disturbing the previous shift. These small details have a positive effect on sleep deprivation and allow firefighters the opportunity to recharge, maintain mental and physical balance, and be healthier for themselves and the community.

The facility features polished concrete floors and durable materials, such as quartz countertops and solid surface shower panels, for longer life spans and easy maintenance. Large windows that are in the common area bring in an abundance of natural light to enhance circadian rhythms and improve energy efficiency.

The station’s interior is designed to keep hazardous materials out of the living quarters. Airlocks separate the living quarters from the bay, and the living quarters are under constant positive pressure, pushing contaminates out of the space. The turnout gear room has its own exhaust.    

Architect/Firm Name: Tim Wiley/emersion DESIGN