($1 million-$5 million)
Fire Station No. 30
Architect: Schacht Aslani Architects
Engineer: EEI Engineers
Owner: Seattle Fleets and Services
ABC members: Evergreen Concrete Cutting, Matheus Lumber Co., Propel Insurance, Safety Matters, Schmitz and Associates
Fire Station No. 30 was built to handle the modern needs of an emergency service facility along with the needs of those who live and work in the station. The certified LEED gold building, with abundant copper siding and a structural curtain wall facade, is also a source of civic pride for the Mount Baker neighborhood in Seattle.
The building was constructed using light-weight framing that required attention to detail for proper installation. The copper cladding system also entailed a great deal of detail work, as each panel was custom fabricated.
The busy neighborhood, across the street from Franklin High School, near Rainier Avenue and the Mount Baker Light Rail Station, meant sequencing work and excellent communication with neighboring properties were paramount to the project's success.
Achieving LEED gold certification involved a number of sustainable design elements. Geothermal wells that extend 300 feet below the building provide heating and cooling for the living areas while high-efficiency gas heaters serve the apparatus bay. Living areas use natural ventilation with operable windows in the bunk area and ample daylighting throughout the building. There is a bio-swale for storm water collection and a large detention vault.
Due to the underlying liquefaction zone, the building was constructed on 48 auger-cast piles extending up to 40 feet deep to support the elevated structural concrete slab needed to bear the fully-loaded fire trucks.
Despite the tight schedule, the project was completed on time. There were no recordable incidents in the 16,805 hours worked.