When the City of Newcastle began making decisions on building a new fire station, they chose Guernsey for the firm responsible for design and aesthetics. With the City’s growth, City officials knew this was not only an opportunity to provide new and better facilities, but also to redefine city offices.
The Guernsey team working on Newcastle Fire Station #1 was Vice-President David Oman and architect Maria Angelica Prado. The Newcastle Pacer was able to pose a few questions to Prado. The following are those questions and the architect’s answers.
Q: What makes the Newcastle Fire Station design unique?
A: The Newcastle Fire Station #1 is significant for the City of Newcastle. It is replacing the existing fire station, which has served the community well, but with a more functional, efficient, and safer facility for the fire department.
The Newcastle Fire Department is an important branch of the community that serves in more ways than just fighting fires. First responders and their facilities are critical in order to properly protect and serve the rapidly growing community, and this is just the first step. The fire station will also serve as the first phase of a multiyear plan for modernizing the City and establishing a quality standard of design and service.
This building serves as more than just a fire station. It is a symbol of progress, passion and dedication for the future of the City.
Q: How will the new facility benefit Newcastle firefighters in their daily life and in serving the public?
A: The new facility offers all the comforts of a home environment with the commodities of new technology for the firefighters to perform their work and to accommodate future technologies and processes for first responders.
In addition, the facility also houses spaces to address continuing education like a study room and a training room, and spaces for the health and welfare of the firefighters including a state-of-the-art kitchen and fitness room.
The design of the building has been done in a such a way to allow the most access to natural daylight in the interior as well as access to outdoor spaces to address the human response to a biophilic environment that provides feelings of calm and comfort.
A firefighter’s profession is in a constant state of stress and providing a facility that encourages moments of retreat and relief and with tools for personal and professional growth will assist in a better mind and body for our firefighters to better serve the community — not only in an empathetic way, but also in an efficient and effective manner.
Q: Will this new facility complement and help define the downtown Main Street area of Newcastle?
A: Yes, the new facility will complement and help define the downtown Newcastle area. The design intent from the beginning was to create a facility that housed all the modern necessities of a fire department but to pay homage to the traditional and vernacular architecture of the region.
With this municipal facility being the first of many, it is establishing a design and quality standard to maintain the small town traditional aesthetic but with possibilities for growth and improvement for future generations.
Q: We’ve been told the project will take 12 months
of construction depending on weather. Is this accurate?
A: Yes, you are correct regarding the timing for construction. The project is planned to be a 12-month project from the Notice to Proceed.
Q: Any other relevant information?
A: The Fire Station #1 facility will house an ICC 500 saferoom and Decontamination Room for proper wash down with extractors to clean Bunker Gear, vital to fire personnel.
In addition, a fitness room has been provided for routine physical training and 10 private sleeping compartments.
The term ICC 500 applies to the design, construction, installation, and inspection of both residential and community storm shelters.
