The Buckeye Valley (Ariz.) Fire District’s Station No. 326 is a dramatic departure from the metal garage and doublewide trailer that previously housed fire personnel and apparatus. The new state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot facility features three apparatus bays, 10 dorms, unisex bathrooms, an open kitchen/dining/dayroom design, fitness room, captain and firefighting office space, EMS exam room and training/community room.

The site and plan design were created in response to the rural location and the station’s proximity to a residential neighborhood. Apparatus bays were placed to reduce impact from the department’s daily activities and to the neighbors. Open space and native landscaping also enhance the site.

The station integrated building systems and materials typically not considered for most fire stations: insulating concrete forms (ICF) in lieu of conventional masonry, and structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the roofing. But both are perfect solutions if used properly, said Gerrald Adams, principal of Perlman Architects.

“Both of these materials don’t seem to make sense, because these products in the raw form feel cheap and don’t look like they will withstand the test of time,” Adams said. “At first look they are just Styrofoam and wood … how might that hold up in a fire station. It is the other elements that make these products a perfect solution. It also allowed for a number of interior and exterior finishes options that would be fire station appropriate.”

As these materials are atypical for fire stations, Adams made sure he had experienced subcontractors to perform the work. The result was well worth the effort, and the project is a finalist for project of the year at the World of Concrete Conference.

The kitchen/dining/dayroom area features large flexible spaces that also can be used for personnel training and larger public functions. Adjacent private and semi-private outdoor spaces can be accessed by large overhead doors for flexibility and comfort. Each major interior space benefits from natural light and views.

“This was the first ground-up, conventional facility for this fire district. From the very beginning, the fire chief and user committee made it very clear they wanted a new facility that was state-of-the-art and was built for the long-term, using sustainable elements and [becoming] LEED certified,” Adams said.

Fire Chief Scott Benbow had a vision and involved the entire department in the process. Each week during construction, he invited a different crew to visit the site, see the daily routine and listen to the owner-architect-contractor meeting. The department was interested in using new products and building systems that would reduce the long-term maintenance and operating costs of the facility.

Adams said it was important to involve as many people in the design process as the project needed. “From the day the contract was signed and to this day this is a perfect example of collaboration,” Adams said. “We always feel that some of the best ideas come from the firefighters themselves.”

And the fire department has kept its promise to live a green lifestyle, incorporating a Lotus cleaning system that adds an extra oxygen atom to tap water to create a natural sanitizer. The facility also includes a photovoltaic system, thermal water heater and greener septic system.

The facility, built by CORE Construction, is awaiting final review and is expected to earn LEED Gold certification.