Webster (Texas) Fire Station & Training Tower Wins Silver
The 18,000 SF, 6-bay mission-critical facility has earned a Silver Award in FIRE CHIEF Magazine's 13th annual Station Style Fire Station Design Awards. The program recognizes outstanding fire station architecture and design nationwide. Completed in April, 2013, the $4.5 million station sports a lodge-style façade and state-of-the-art firefighting and training apparatus.
The Webster station, which won Silver in the highly competitive Career Station category, was featured in the November's FIRE CHIEF issue. (Also featured in that issue as an Outstanding Project was PGAL-designed Montgomery County Emergency Service District #8 Fire Station 2, Spring, TX. Please see Montgomery County Station section below for project details.)
Mandated to introduce a fresh aesthetic to a contemporary City Hall/Police Station complex, the City of Webster mission-critical facility presents an inviting lodge-style façade incorporating limestone and clay brick, decorative concrete pavers and a covered, stone-faced front porch while its blue metal roof visually links it to existing buildings.
Varying roof lines express a range of uses and enhance the structure's overall stature. Two tower elements, one fronting an interior stairway and one housing regional training facilities, extend the station's height and presence. Architectural details include tower roof caps, white cast stone pendants, a prominent cornerstone and clerestory windows in bays.
The first floor accommodates six apparatus bays, office, training room, lobby and public areas. Second floor houses kitchen/dining/laundry/storage spaces, a fitness center and 14 sleeping quarters, enabling the department to expand to 24-hour coverage.
The training tower (which serves as a second exit staircase when not in use) is designed with waterproof surfaces and internal drainage, a 30' platform with topside water connection and an outside opening for ladder entry.
Just six miles from the Gulf of Mexico, the highly sustainable, energy efficient station is hardened to withstand 146 mpg winds and maintain an emergency operations center with 100% backup power.
- PGAL Project Manager: Jeff Gerber, Principal/CEO, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
- PGAL Project Architect: Phat Nguyen, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
- Webster Facilities Management Director: Shannon Hicks
- Webster Fire Chief: Patrick Shipp
Montgomery County Station 2
This $2.8 million, 10,000 SF station is a textbook example of how close client/architect collaboration can achieve outstanding functionality, energy-efficiency and aesthetics–plus some priority “extras”–all within very modest space/budget parameters.
Elements include four double-depth pull-through apparatus bays, day crew offices, kitchen/storage for three shifts, laundry, workshop, fitness area, five individual sleeping quarters, FEMA-rated safe room and a small police sub-station. The format takes advantage of high apparatus bay ceilings by creating a storage mezzanine. Garages are clear span with no internal columns in bays, providing more useable space for operations, faster access to apparatus.
Value engineering produced dollars to fund client-designated “extras”: an advanced fume extraction system; upgraded 14', high wind rated, 4-fold doors opening in 6 seconds and an energy-efficient foam-insulated envelope.
Like most neighboring residences, the station is single-story, wood stud construction with pitched roof of red/brown asphalt shingles. Distinguishing façade features include a tower, covered entry, limestone-blend stone wainscot with stucco, a stone porch surround and decorative frieze detailing under roofline.
Designed to LEED Silver criteria and equipped for emergency community sheltering (100% back-up power), the station is a “good neighbor”–bays/parking are in rear with low-level lighting, surrounded by an 8' solid, decorative fence. Equipment-washing is inside. Most natural buffers and mature streetside trees were preserved.
- PGAL Project Manager: Jeff Gerber, Principal/CEO, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
- PGAL Project Architect: Gerri Gusler, Project Manager
- Fire Chief: Robert Hudson