This 15,500-square-foot facility serves the evolving needs of the Aspen Volunteer Fire Department. Public parking and access to nearby Highway 82 is provided at the one-story front façade. The sloping site permits the taller volumes of the apparatus bays to be located at the low end of the site minimizing their visual impact on the neighborhood.

High, long windows and skylights offer natural light to interior spaces. Passive ventilation draws air from the low north elevation and exhausts warmer air out the skylight and trickle ventilating windows. A roof-top photovoltaic array generates power for the facility.

The upper level includes a community room/emergency operations center, public restrooms, office space and a station keeper's apartment. The lower level has three storage bays and three pull-through bays, shift quarters, kitchen, day room, and gym. Large glass walls from public spaces offer views of the fire trucks during community functions. The hose-drying tower at the southeast corner of the building also provides training opportunities.

The exterior of the building reflects the industrial vocabulary of the neighborhood. Finishes are durable and low-maintenance, and they include extruded metal louvers, textured masonry block, metal panels, and aluminum storefront windows.

Firm: Studio B Architects Fisher & Associates (Associate Architect)

Design Team:

Gilbert Sanchez, Principle in Charge

Joseph Spears, Project Manager

Chris Fisher, Associate Project Manager

Fire Chief: Darryl Grob

Project Area: 15,000 sq. ft.

Total Cost: $4,000,000

Cost per Square Foot: $266

Completion Date: February 2008