In Quarters: Y-12 National Security Complex Fire Department, Oak Ridge, TN

This facility received the Career 1 Notable award in the 2024 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

The former fire station at the Y-12 National Security Complex dated back to World War II. Designed for an earlier era, it was cramped, outdated and worn and did not meet standards for the modern and specialized response of this unique government facility.

The new station includes areas for bunks, living quarters, active and classroom training, administrative operations, bays, and other firematic spaces for vehicles, equipment, and specialized gear and tools.

The integrated training regimens on both mezzanines have enhanced the quality and capacity to conduct active training. A greatly improved work-life environment was created for the first responders who are housed in the new facility.

This innovative, L-shaped station has two floors that have a training/storage mezzanine on each leg of the apparatus bays. Specific types of apparatus can respond out of the four drivethrough bays on the west side (directly off of the living quarters). The other five bays that are on the north side are for more specialized preventative vehicles and equipment. 

The lower floor of the station houses the dayroom, bunks and firematic operations, including storage for uncommon gear, such as hazmat suits and associated supplies.

The upper floor comprises space for 14 command officers and 11 administrative staff. Additionally, this floor has a state-of-the-art classroom training facility for 50 people. One of the unique aspects of the station is the alerting system, which is designed to directly broadcast emergency calls from anywhere on the complex.

One of the greatest challenges in designing and constructing this station was access to the site. Tight security requirements meant that the members of the design team weren’t permitted to bring phones, cameras or any electronics to the site. Instead, they were limited to working from notes, drawings and memory.

Architect: BKV Group and H2M architects + engineers