Arizona State University Architecture Advanced Studio Spring 2020
RACHEL MARIE FRAIL
UNIFI CATION MIDTOWN PHOENIX
FI RE STATI ON #9
Designer’s Note Unifications affirms the rights of the individual to the natural landscape and speaks to the responsibility of the city to care for the natural systems sustaining life in the desert context. This project is meant to serve as an example of how public projects can assist in moderating private development through the implementation of natural spaces within the skyward city. I hope this project provokes conversations surrounding the way in which our cities develop, and how the public projects can assist in negating the negative impacts of our capitalist society. Let us begin a new conversation about public welfare, community, and human health. Let us make quality of life and sustainable practices prevail over financial gain. Let us design a new city that speaks to the human experience. And let us start this conversation on the micro-level by discussing the potential of Fire Station #9 in Midtown Phoenix. Thank you for joining the conversation, Email : rfrail@asu.edu Rachel Marie Frail
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Final Review Presentation April 20, 2020
Table of Contents FIRE STATION #9 CLIENT & PROGRAM
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MIDTOWN PHX CONTEXT & SITE
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PUBLIC SERVICE + PUBLIC AMENITY CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT BUILDING A COMMUNITY FROM THE INSIDE OUT PROGRAMMING CONSTRUCTING A PUBLIC SERVICE + PUBLIC AMENITY IT ALL STARTED WITH A COLUMN PREFABRICATION: COLUMN + CLT COLUMN & RAINWATER MANAGEMENT EXPOSING THE CEILILNGS: MEP SOLUTIONS APPARATUS PRESSURE ZONES EXPERIENCE THE NEW STATION #9 A NEW FACILITY THE PUBLIC PARK THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE THE LIVING QUARTERS THE GYM THE PROCESS CASE STUDY EARLY EXPLORATION MID REVIEW EXPLORING CONSTRUCTION
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FIRE STATION #9 CLIENT & PROGRAM Fire Station #9 serves Midtown Phoenix consisting of high-rise and midrise developments in addition to single-family homes. For 90% of all incidents, the apparatus unit must be able to arrive within 4-6 minutes and be able to accommodate up to a five-patient medical incident. These public servants work in high-stakes situations providing vital, lifesaving care to the community. The station is home to Engine 9, Ladder 9, Ladder Tender 9, Rescue 9, and Battalion 1. The apparatus function of the fire station presents challenges involving mechanical equipment and the necessary division of positive, zero, and negative pressure zones. Due to the high risk of carcinogens, a decontamination zone is also required for all turnout equipment.
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During any shift, the fire station must be able to accommodate thirteen firefighters and their captain in addition to five battalion members and the battalion chief. The staff of the fire station also includes administrative staff and receptionists. Firefighters work a unique schedule consisting of 24 hours on followed by 48 hours off. Because firefighters live at the fire station while on shift, their work environments must also resemble that of the residential environment with the same amenities and comforts. Organization of programming is vital in maintaining functionality of the fire station while also manifesting a home-like environment to build comradery between emergency calls.
*RELATIONSHIP REMAINED AND BECAME PROGRAMMING OF SECOND FLOOR BETWEEN HOUSE AND SHED
SHED GROUND FLOOR *TURNOUT MOVED INTO SUPPORT SERVICES TO ADDRESS DECONTAMINATION ZONE REQUIREMENTS.
*RELATIONSHIP REMAINED
*PROGRAMMING ELIMINATED
*RELATIONSHIP REMAINED AND COMBINED WITH TRAINING ROOM
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The current Fire Station #9 exists as an entirely utilitarian space maximizing functionality of the fire station operations; however, firefighters perform far more public services than just the standard emergency calls as a part of their daily routine. A typical firefighter begins their shift promptly at 8:00 am by changing into their uniform and performing routine checks of all personal equipment. The firetruck is then checked and equipped to be readied for calls to occur on shift. Truck maintenance is performed regularly. Firefighters are also responsible for all cleaning duties of the fire station and maintenance around the facility. As a large family, they care for their home together through the delegation of chores. Scheduled activities are provided for the firefighters daily, and these are to be flexible and altered depending on emergency incidences. During a typical shift, firefighters perform onsite drills and continuous training. Firefighters are required to spend at least one hour physically training during a shift and, therefore, require an equipped gym for this purpose. Other activities of the firefighter’s day include pre-fire planning, hydrant maintenance, and child safety seat installations. The station often has a family meal together as the evening approaches, and time after dinner is reserved for personal downtime. With entrance of the millennial generation, seasoned firefighters have noticed a lack of community during these periods of personal downtime; therefore, spaces encouraging comradery become an important aspect of the design. In addition to the daily routine of the firefighters, these public servants also participate in many community services. The fire stations handle inspection services for renovations and sales of homes, consultations with developers and plan reviews, emergency management operations, inspections of schools and nursing homes, state mandated annual inspections, fire drills for school districts, walk-in blood pressure analysis, lock box installation and maintenance, management of needle collection and disposal, etc. Fire Station #9 also participates in community outreach. The station provides educational services to children including the Youth Firesetter Intervention Program and ensures child immunizations and vaccinations are available for all Phoenix children. The station provides a rentable community room to the public and is available to accommodate public and private events. The station also provides a plethora of resources to senior citizens including information and education regarding meal plans, transportation options, disability, and housing opportunities. With all the resources the fire station provides to the public, the decision to integrate community programming into the fire station becomes a central focus.
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S I T E A N A LY S I S
zoning / TOD Transit-Oriented Districts As part of the Reinvent PHX project, City Council adopted the WU Code on July 1, 2015, now Chapter 13 of the Zoning Ordinance (ZO). The code will regulate development around light rail stations in all ďŹ ve Transit-Oriented Districts (TOD): Gateway, Eastlake-GarďŹ eld, Midtown, Uptown, and Solano; and will replace the existing zoning for properties within the Interim Transit Oriented Zoning Overlay Districts (TOD-1 and TOD-2 of the Zoning Ordinance).
Midtown PHX CONTEXT & SITE The Midtown Phoenix location, situated between Weldon Ave and Columbus Ave a block east of Central Ave, provides a plethora of unique opportunities. The context is characterized by high-rise development unique to the midtown area. This demands a different type of physical conditioning of the firefighters in comparison to other stations in the valley. The site is also surrounded by new mid-rise development. Most of the mid-rise development occurring around the site are primarily intended for residential use; therefore, densification is rapidly occurring on Central Ave. The result of this densification is a surplus of hardscape around the site. So much of the surrounding sites are either structure or pavement resulting in a lack of permeable ground and vegetation. The vacant lots located around the site indicate the prospect of further development and further densification in the near future. To add to the complexity of space, single family residential neighborhoods continue to thrive east of the site providing this contrast between suburban and city living. The pedestrian activity onsite is primarily working professionals navigating between professional practices and local eateries during lunch hours. The lack of developed land directly adjacent to the site negates pedestrian foot traffic; however, the goal of Reinvent Phoenix is to densify the midtown area, activate the street, and create a more walkable community. This desire to focus on densification as a means of sustainable practice must be addressed through the design strategy.
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The context is comprised of professional and public services including three schools located within a block of the site. Directly across the street on Columbus, the United Phoenix Firefighters Association resides. Other buildings around the site are crumbling into disarray as they lie vacant and will eventually be demolished in coming years making way for new development in the near future. The site is located within the TOD T5:7 Medium Intensity District. This area is characterized by a broad mix of building types integrating retail, offices, and residential units adjacent to the Light Rail Corridor. These structures average 56 to 100-feet in height. The TOD requirements encourage pedestrian activation through new developments by engaging the public with the activities and functionality of the structure directly adjacent to the sidewalk. The TOD requirements also suggest a limiting of the setback to eliminate vacant space between sidewalk and facility. With so much opportunity and economic viability for new development, the urban fabric of this area within midtown will transform in the coming decade into a moderately densified city completely unrecognizable from its current suburban vibe. The demographic of surrounding areas currently consists mainly of Caucasian and Hispanic origins predominantly in their thirties. Approximately 24-35% of these households are reported to be families with children. Moreover, home prices average from 100K to 400K. Available housing between 2020 and 2040 is anticipated to increase in the area by nearly 8,000 residential units, and available jobs in surrounding and incoming businesses are anticipated to grow from 27,000 to 50,000 in the next two decades. The climate of Phoenix is arid and desert. The site itself does not provide any existing elements of shade, and heat avoidance in the summer will become a pressing issue. Through the densification of the surrounding properties, this condition is likely to change in the near future. The densification also makes the reliance on existing natural views an unreliable design strategy for this site. Moreover, the Midtown area is characterized by its public amenities, historical structures, and public services. The area features a multitude of amenities catering to the arts. Both the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum are not far from the site. Historical sites such as the Park Central Mall (1957), Phoenix Indian School (1922), and the Phoenix Financial Center (1963) maintain the essence of the original Midtown fabric. Finally, Native Health, Phoenix VA Health Care System, and Dignity Health St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center provide the perfect compliment to the fire station’s life-saving functionality within proximity to site.
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NEIGHBORHOOD TEXTURES
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NEW-BUILD TEXTURES
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UNIFICATION: Public Service + Public Amenity CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT Unification is a proposal to combine public service with public amenity to unite the public servants with the community in which they serve. With the densification of Midtown by private developers, Unification is a solution to protect permeable ground for rainwater retention and a solution to protect public space for community engagement. Due to the increasing population in Midtown Phoenix through the midrise residential development occurring in the area, the site calls for an outdoor public space to preserve the community’s connection with the desert’s natural systems and provide a link between densified Central Avenue and the single family residential neighborhoods continuing to thrive in the east. The project focuses on community engagement in addition to addressing the functionality and efficiency of the fire station. The public is invited onto the site through the inclusion of publics paths and desert vegetation. The building’s form also invites the public to experience the space through the physical proximity to the sidewalk and the “opening” of the structure to Central Avenue, the path of access from the light rail.
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The facility explores the use of dynamic form and organic elements while placing constructability, functionality, and experience at the forefront of the design. The purpose of the fire station, to serve the public, expands the program to include the public amenity and accessibility people require in their daily lives. The fire station no longer exists as just a location of emergency, but now it exists as a place of education, community engagement, and socialization. The project questions the limitations of current public services by challenging the existing architectural strategy of the existing Fire Station #9 – public negating. Unification becomes a mission to unite public servants with the community through mutual use of natural space. The project also seeks to expand upon the definition of public service to include the use of a public park. The experience of the natural landscape remains a birthright of all human beings and a necessity in the preservation of mental health and wellness. Therefore, by providing a public park, the fire station is contributing to the overall health of the community. The project also exists as a social commentary on how public funds should provide amenity for the communities, and how the city should value public interest over private. While many encouraged the parceling of land on the midtown site for private development, Unification sought to protect the public interest in the land and limit the overconsumption of resources within the block between Weldon and Columbus. Overall, the project reaches beyond functionality to make a larger argument regarding sustainability, groundwater, community, and basic requirements for human health and wellness in densifying areas. The project serves as an example of how the city can directly impact the health and wellness of their citizens through the availability and preservation of natural space in a smaller, decentralized manner. Therefore, providing smaller, more frequent parks throughout midtown that can assisting in water retention and community engagement can have a larger impact than one large park to facilitate the needs of all. This would also result in creating a more walkable city and provide the parks with an increase in public use as accessibility increases.
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Building a Community From the Inside Out PROGRAMMING Unification serves as a fully operable fire station with the added programming of public amenities. The facility is separated into the ‘house’ and the ‘shed’. The ‘house’ features the community amenities, offices, and all living quarters for the firefighters and battalion. The ‘shed’ features the apparatus bay, apparatus accessory spaces, mezzanine storage, and a large gym stretching across the second floor. The ground floor of the ‘house’ is largely public in nature including the community center and the lobby of the fire station. The public park stretches through the exterior shaded spaces of the ground floor creating an intertwined experience between the natural and built environment. The public park stretches across the west half of the site inviting city dwellers to take refuge from their mid-rise residences in the natural landscape below. The site is characterized by layers of discovery. As one moves through the public park from the light rail on Central Avenue, the facility slowly reveals itself in a sea of trees. The structure was not intended to be viewed from afar. The site is meant to spark a curiosity, begin a conversation with the public, and become an invitation for exploration. The design deals with the progression of space and the human experience of space as driving factors in determining scale and form of the overall elements.
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SITE
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1. COMMUNITY ROOM 2. CATERING KITCHEN 3. STORAGE
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4. LOBBY 5. RECEPTION 6. COFFEE BAR 7. WATCH ROOM / STATION OFFICE 8. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE 9. RADIO / COMMUNICATIONS ROOM 10. ALTERNATE OFFICE 11. MECHANICAL CLOSET
12. ELECTRICAL CLOSET 13. IDC CLOSET 14. SCBA BOTTLE / HOSE STORAGE 15. MISC. STORAGE 16. EMS STORAGE CLOSET
22. EXTERIOR STORAGE 23. GENERATOR 24. FUEL PUMP 25. EMPLOYEE PARKING 26. VISITOR, ADA & PUBLIC PARKING
17. APPARATUS BAY 18. DECONTAMINATION CARDIO AREA 19. TURNOUT STORAGE 20. LAUNDRY 21. SINK / EYE WASH
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1. CAPTAIN’S DORMITORY 2. FIREFIGHTER’S DORMITORIES 3. FIREFIGHTER’S LIVING ROOM 4. FIREFIGHTER’S KITCHEN 5. FIREFIGHTER’S PANTRY 6. MEDITATION SPACE
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7. JANITORIAL 8. MECHANICAL 9. ELECTRICAL 10. LAUNDRY 11. OUTDOOR DECK
12. MEN’S RESTROOM 13. WOMEN’S RESTROOM 14. BATTALION’S KITCHEN 15. BATTALION’S PANTRY 16. BATTALION’S LIVING ROOM 17. BATTALION’S DORMITORIES 18. BATTALION CHIEF’S DORMITORY 19. CARDIO ROOM 20. LARGE OPEN GYM 21. WEIGHT ROOM
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1. BATTALION OFFICES 2. LIBRARY / STUDY 3. JANITORIAL / STORAGE 4. MEZZANINE STORAGE 5. MECHANICAL DECK
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The site maximizes the amount of permeable land preserved on the site and the amount of public space. The public park features a large retention area, and all concrete for the project is specified to be pervious pavement. A large portion of the site is dedicated to public use with the public park facing densified Central Avenue and light rail. The park features natural desert vegetation supported through the retention area. The private areas of the apparatus ‘shed’ are located to the east and encourage apparatus deployment east-bound to avoid the heavier foot traffic on Central. All traffic directions through the site are one-way to maximize space and efficiency in travel time. The northern portion of the site is reserved for smaller, interconnected shops and restaurants. These rentable units are to be reserved for small, local businesses in the midtown area to further promote the context of place. These shops also assist in meeting the requirements of the TOD area as they activate the northern portion of the site for pedestrian use. The site becomes a beacon of community, context, and culture to feed the densifying cityscape surrounding the site.
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Constructing a Public Service + Public Amenity IT ALL STARTED WITH A COLUMN The building itself exists as an invitation for public discovery. The façade features exposed, twisting prefabricated concrete columns seemingly growing from the earth and towering into the sky. The experience of form and scale was inspired by the slot canyons featured across the western half of the United States. The building allows the public to explore the structure from all angles: outside the structure, under the structure, and between the structure, from above and from below. The possibilities of exploration throughout the space provide intrigue and additional layers of the discovery process. The columns serve as the shading device, exterior façade, interior wall, and structural column. The concept was to use a monolithic element to accomplish a wide variety of tasks to eliminate components in the overall kit-of-parts. The columns shape shades the eastern and western ‘house’ facades from the rising and setting sun providing the dormitories with ambient, northern light throughout the day. Moreover, an insulation cavity is placed within the columns on the second floor to provide further protection from the scorching, desert heat. The entire structure was designed around the use of the column, and the concept radiated from this singular fascination with the prefabricated concrete element. The column came first, and the program layout, structural composition, and experience of site soon followed.
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PREFABRICATION: COLUMN + CLT In addition to being characterized by the twisting, prefabricated concrete columns, the facility is largely constructed using a prefabricated cross laminated timber, CLT, system. The interior structural members consist of timber columns and beams. The methods of egress are framed using CLT cores, and the mezzanine floor is supported by CLT bearing walls.
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The structure of the building was designed using forty-foot spans to capitalize on the prefabricated CLT structural floor system, Crosslam CLT, created by Structurlam. The system features a 40’x10’ standard unit dimensions that was used to determine the dimensions of the second floor. The structure was determined first using the Structurlam system, and the programming of the interior followed. Primary CLT spans are placed on a grid throughout the ‘house’ and ‘shed’, and a secondary span is then used to carry the load of the second floor. The project serves as an exploration between prefabricated concrete elements and sustainable building practices. Cross laminated timber was selected for this project due to the durability, fire resistance, sustainability, and overall aesthetics. Due to the building capacity and sustainable properties of cross laminated timber, this construction type is viewed by some as the future of construction for both mid-rise and high-rise development. Moreover, the use of the prefabricated unit was intended to offset building costs associated with casting the twisting, prefabricated columns. The use of both prefabricated elements is intended to greatly cut down on time needed to construct the building on the site. Moreover, the use of cross laminated timber allowed for customization prior to coming to site. The prefabricated concrete columns carry the span of the second floor and roof using sculptural platforms “growing” from the column’s unique shape. With the orientation of the columns, these platforms create angled conditions of the floor along the east and west sides of the ‘house’ structure. All the CLT floor panels can be Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC’d) prior to arriving on site to fit the unique condition of the concrete columns. In case customization must be performed on site to accommodate unforeseeable circumstances, cross laminated timber can be easily modified without the need for specialized equipment. The ultimate effect of the CLT structural system is an aesthetic that is beneficial in connecting the firefighter and the public with natural elements from the interior. The theme of natural connections to the manmade is prevalent throughout the landscape and the interior as natural materials and views live in harmony with the concrete and densified cityscape.
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The Crosslam CLT structural floor system by Structurlam is used in conjunction with the prefabricated concrete columns to provide a balance between hard and soft structural elements and incorporate a cohesive prefabricated construction strategy. TOP: Crosslam CLT Technical Design Guide MIDDLE: Illustration of Crosslam CLT structural floor system being CNC’d to accomodate unique condidtion of the prefabricated concrete column RIGHT: Illustration of the prefabricated concrete column bearing the weight of the second floor and roof spans through the use of integrated floor and roof supports.
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The Future of Design Groundwater Retention
COLUMN & RAINWATER MANAGEMENT The concrete columns also assist in celebrating the natural systems occurring on the site. The abstracted form facilitates a tremendous amount of function for the twisting, concrete element. The roof features a drainage deck that directs roof water to the concrete columns on the edge of the structure. The drainage deck is designed to direct rainwater through an opening in the top of the columns to the outward-facing faรงade. Whenever the desert is blessed with rain, rainwater flows down the concrete columns in a celebration of life persisting in the harsh desert landscape. The rainwater then nourishes the plants at the base of the column and feeds water into the large retention area onsite. The columns exist as a symbol of the thriving desert plant life and thriving desert community despite the harsh elements of the natural and manmade world. They also serve as an example of how architecture can assist in addressing the pressing issue of ground water in Phoenix, Arizona. As the state denies the pressing water issues surrounding life in the valley, the water resources the public takes for granted are beginning to diminish. The replenishment of groundwater will become a major focus in the next few decades as Phoenix searches for new resources of freshwater. The interconnected relationship between the concrete columns and the retention area in the Unification project serves as an example of how cities can begin to address the need for groundwater within the densified cityscape.
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Applied on a large scale, the implementation of smaller retention areas throughout the city with architectural elements directing groundwater to site could result in faster replenishment of freshwater, the vital resource Arizona so desperately needs. The Unification proposal serves as a small look into how designers can start to combat the most pressing issue of the 21st century.
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EXPOSING THE CEILINGS: MEP SOLUTIONS Ceilings throughout the project are strategically dropped around the cores to allow for the exposure of the cross laminated system. In the ‘house’, the ceilings are dropped around the core and throughout the mezzanine floor allowing exposed ceilings to remain in tack in the community center and the lobby. The system is fed through a roof unit. On the secondfloor ceilings are dropped throughout service areas and dormitories to provide a more comfortable ceiling height for intimate spaces. This allows the MEP equipment to snake around the second floor without infringing on the exposed wood ceilings featured throughout the open living areas. In the ‘shed’, ceilings are dropped on both sides of the apparatus bay leaving exposed CLT structural elements above the apparatus. Equipment throughout the apparatus bay is left exposed to celebrate the mechanisms driving the function of space. This celebration of machinery and functionality of space mirrors the celebration and pride of the apparatus itself. The ‘shed’ is fed through a large mechanical deck located on the mezzanine level of the eastern side of the facility. Both the ‘house’ and ‘shed’ each contain their own plumbing wall running from the ground floor through the second. This consolidation of plumbing facilities minimized the number of CLT members needing to be CNC’d for MEP vertical cavities and decreases the amount of overall piping required to manage the plumbing fixtures. Plumbing in the ‘house’ runs through a wall located at the core, and branches through the extended core on the second floor to meet the needs of all restrooms and kitchen areas. The consolidation of plumbing and location of drop ceilings was integral in the decision making process early during schematic design by providing an additional layer of constraints. Abiding by the constrains associated with MEP efficiency provided a complicated puzzle which resulted in an efficient programmatic layout in terms of functionality and system efficiency.
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APPARATUS PRESSURE ZONES The ‘shed’ is separated into the pressure zones required for the proper functioning of the apparatus bay. The apparatus bay is kept at a negative pressure to remove all exhaust from the enclosure. The decontamination zone includes the turnout storage, laundry, and decontamination cardio room. This zone is intended to capture any carcinogenic materials and prevent them from entering the living quarters. A zero-pressure zone exists as a buffer between the negative pressure of the apparatus bay and the positive pressure of the ‘house’.
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Experience the New Station #9 A NEW FACILITY The experience of Unification is one as complex as the natural world itself. The site is meant to evoke all five senses using the natural world and creates a refuge from the concrete jungle of the densifying city. The exterior is characterized by a progression of spaces through the public park as one approaches the building. From the sidewalk, the building appears camouflaged in a sea of trees; however, the facility slowly emerges as one continues to explore and discover the space. The structure itself opens to the park inviting the public to seek refuge from the sun beneath the deep overhangs of the second floor. The invitation to gather is one of intention as the site seeks to promote community engagement and wellness through the bond and exposure to natural space. The southeast corner of the ‘house’ kisses the sidewalk as another invitation onto the site. The massive scale of the prefabricated concrete columns provides a link between the pedestrians and the sky through the use of a monolithic element extending from ground to roof. The appearance of a column at such a scale at the sidewalk’s edge encourages pedestrians to look up. This serves as the first architectural invitation for further exploration.
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THE PUBLIC PARK The public park provides a variety of experiences through pathways, concrete walls, a grassy lawn, a water retention area, and a variety of natural vegetation. The goal of the park is to provide permeable ground and water retention to assist in replenishing the area’s groundwater while providing the public with relief from city life. The park encourages community activities and engagement with the firefighters through shared outdoor space. The park itself provides a variety of different conditions for activity. The outdoor paths are perfect for walks or run throughout the space, the retention area provides elevated walkways to enjoy the abundance of desert plant life growing beneath the canopy of trees, and the grassy lawn provides a location for outdoor sports, exercise, and afterschool activities for the nearby schools. The park melds with the structure by continuing beneath the second floor and between the prefabricated concrete columns on the ground floor to provide a shaded outdoor experience. The park also serves to activate the sidewalk for the southern portion of the site. As the TOD zone requires pedestrian engagement, the park adjacent to the sidewalk provides multiple places of entry to entice the public to interact with the site and encourage foot traffic around the site.
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THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE The community center is the heart of the Unification project. The community center includes a catering kitchen, accessible restroom, storage closet, and a large, open twostory multipurpose room. The facility is meant to be accessible to the public after-hours by being self-containing and separate from the fire station. The multipurpose room features an abundance of glazing, protected by the large overhangs from the second floor. The glazing provides views to the park and street allowing for a indoor/outdoor experience during the summer months. In cooler weather, the front walls of the multipurpose room accordion on a track to open the entire space up to the elements and to the large outdoor, covered patio beyond the interior. This expansion of space between indoor and outdoor allows the facility to host large events or simply to provide natural ventilation for indoor activities during the cooler months. The community space is meant to provide nearby residence a “third place� outside of their routine of work and home. By providing a safe, accessible space for children to play and people to gather, the space hopes to assist in building relationships among the individuals in the immediate area.
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THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE The parking lot to the north provides an entirely different experience of entry into the ‘house’ structure. The procession of columns creates a monumental experience as one approaches the volume. The employee entrance leads into a corridor with views into the courtyard connecting the ‘house’ and the ‘shed’. The indoor/outdoor connection exhibited in the courtyard is a reoccurring theme throughout the project. The office spaces were designed with wellness in mind. Each office space contains a view to the natural world and receives natural daylighting. The working spaces also feature an abundance of natural materials to assist in creating calming working environments for individuals spending extended hours in the office interior. The bridge linking the ‘house’ and the ‘shed’ also capitalizes on views of the interior courtyard. The intention of the bridge was to calm the mind of the firefighters as they returned back to the ‘house’ from an emergency response call. As firefighters often deal with traumatic incidences on response calls, the building is designed to assist in relieving the public servants of stress through an abundance of natural elements.
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THE LIVING QUARTERS The living quarters were designed to build comradery among the firefighters. The northwest portion of the second floor is dedicated to the firefighters and captains dormitories and living quarters. The design features a large kitchen where each of the fourteen-member crew can cook and dine together as they bond over a meal. The firefighters also have two large living rooms for watching television and an abundance of group tables for those studying, playing cards, or other social activities. In the southeast corner, the battalion area features the same amenities at a smaller scale to accommodate the six-member crew. Shared amenities are located at the core and include bathrooms, laundry, circulation, and accessory spaces. The floorplan is designed to efficiently cater to programmatic needs while continuing to provide a sense of ownership between the firefighters’ and battalions’ quarters. Each of the living spaces features views of the natural and built environment to reinforce the harmonious integration of nature and the city. The abundance of glazing floods the interior with natural daylight during the day limiting the amount of energy required to illuminate the interior.
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THE GYM The gym is comprised of a cardio room, a large open gym, and a weight room. The gym stretches across the entire second floor of the apparatus bay and is designed to accommodate all fourteen on-duty firefighters and all six on-duty battalion staff at a single time if required. The division of the spaces between cardio, open gym, and weights provides sound control throughout the second floor. The open gym is large enough to accommodate two full-size volleyball courts. This functionality can be used to build comradery not only through Fire Station #9, but also across fire stations in the valley through tournaments and moral boasting competitive sports. The open gym can also be used for community activities such as afterschool programs for children at nearby schools or summer day camps. The large, open multipurpose gym also allows for group Pilates, karate, kickboxing, yoga, etc. The space provides the space to facilitate all the spatial requirements of physical and technical, hands-on training. Moreover, the long balcony adjacent to the gym on the south provides the overhangs required to protect the southern glazing of the second floor and protects the apparatus bay doors from the harsh summer sun. The balcony also provides the gym users an escape to fresh air for the purpose of cooling-down, stretching, or mental relaxation.
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THE PROCESS 1 MONTH RESEARCH 2 MONTHS DESIGN
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CASE STUDY page
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DISSECTING PROGRAM LAYOUT
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UNDERSTANDING DESIGN CHOICES
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AN EXAMPLE OF EXPERIENCE CREATION
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EARLY EXPLORATION page
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TESTING ENERGY EFFICIENCEY OF SIMPLE FORMS
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DAYLIGHT STUDIES USING SIMPLE MASSINGS MASSING COMBO ANALYSIS page
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GETTING THE BAD IDEAS OUT FIRST... INITIAL PASSES AT FORM EXPLORATION.
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MID REVIEW page
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FINDING A FORM
ESTABLISHING SITE USE & SPACE ALLOCATION
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DESIGNING THE GROUND PROGRAM
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GROUND ‘HOUSE’ ENLARGED
GROUND ‘SHED’ ENLARGED
NORTH ELEVATION
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EXPLORING THE TWISTING COLUMN page
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MEZZANINE
ENLARGED
SECOND
ENLARGED
A CUBE WITHIN A CUBE
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SUN STUDY OF COLUMN USE ON SOUTH FACADE
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DISSECTING A TYPICAL ASSEMBLY
STRUCTURE
VISIBLE
MEMBRANE
FULL SECTION
Råå Day Care Center / Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter
EXPLORING CONSTRUCTION page
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THERMAL
COMBINED
RAISED, PERMEABLE ROOF DECKING RESTING ON FEET ON TOP OF MEMBRANE, BENEATH MEMBRANE IS RIGID INSULATION
COLUMN CREATES PARAPET TO DOUBLE AS ROOF RAILING
DRAIN TO SIDES
SLOPPED CONCRETE FLOOR BENEATH TO DIRECT WATER TO SIDE DRAINS
SUPPORT FOR STEEL BEAM IS BUILT INTO PREFAB COLUMN
15’-0”
CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB POURED OVER METAL DECK INSULATION BARRIER BETWEEN METAL DECKING STEEL BEAM - SECTION CUTS THROUGH FLANGE MECHANICAL CAVITY HARD LID CEILING
INTERIOR CONCRETE COLUMNS CUT THROUGH IN SECTION L-BRACKET WITH BOLT CONNECTION INSULATION CAVITY EMBEDDED 3” FROM INTERIOR WALL
TESTING STEEL CONSTRUCTION ON CONCRETE COLUMNS
SUPPORT FOR STEEL BEAM IS BUILT INTO PREFAB COLUMN
CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB POURED OVER METAL DECK
INSULATION BARRIER BETWEEN METAL DECKING
28’-6”
STEEL BEAM - SECTION CUTS THROUGH FLANGE
PREFABRICATED CONCRETE COLUMN, WIDTH OF COLUMN EXTENDS INTO THE EARTH SAME DEPTH AS FOOTINGS.
FINISH FLOOR FLUSH WITH EXTERIOR WALKWAY ELEVATED EXTERIOR WALKWAY ON PEDESTALS FOUNTATION BEGINS PRIOR TO BUILDING INTERIOR STEEL TEMP. SUPPORT
DIAMOND POUR BACK
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TIES/STIRRUPS TO MATCH COLUMN
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SWITCHED TO EXPLORING GLULAM & CROSS LAMINATED TIMBER
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ESTABLISHED PRECEDENCE FOR WOOD FIRE STATION
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RACHEL MARIE FRAIL MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE RFRAIL@ASU.EDU