South Metro Fire Rescue No. 31

Replacing a 1970’s station in an established residential area on a tight site, we studied several configurations to provide through access without disrupting the surrounding neighbors. Holding an important corner of the neighborhood, trucks enter off Havana and exit to East Orchard Road. Concentrating the building mass away from the neighbors, the living area was designed as two stories to maximize open, green space. The building forms and materials are kept simple, breaking up the mass to be more in scale with the surrounding houses. Two main hipped roofs float via a clerestory over a brick base, softening the mass and height. The clerestory design provides ample daylight to the living quarters and apparatus bays, while reducing energy needs.