This year, Rohde May Keller McNamara Architecture, PC, received two honors in the Station Style Fire Station Design Awards: a gold in the shared facilities category for the Bosque Farms (N.M.) Municipal Complex and a silver in the renovation category for the Bloomfield (N.M.) Fire Department Headquarters.

Don H. May, AIA, is a principal architect.

What was the most challenging aspect of designing the Bosque Farms complex?

In these economic times, all public projects are impacted by budget constraints; however, small, rural communities like Bosque Farms are the most severely challenged by the need for improved facilities and services and a lack of sufficient funding to implement them. Once a majority, rural communities have become the minority in the changing distribution of U.S. populations. Society, dominated by urban interests, often ignores the effects of policies on traditional rural life and economic power erodes in these rural communities.

In collaboration with the project's building committee — which consisted of the fire department, police department and village administration/council — we established mutually agreed upon and attainable parameters that would promote the achievement of both the budget and scope objectives. Rather than compromise, we characterize this common challenge as a value-based balance between quantity, quality and cost.

What is the most rewarding aspect of the complex?

We were striving for a design solution that not only accomplished the functional/operational public-safety objectives, but that would be embraced by the community. The study of traditional agrarian structures and their relationships yielded a wealth of time-tested solutions that influenced the ultimate design solutions, ranging from the most global master-plan issues and the buildings themselves, to the most minute construction details. The existing site and facilities were surveyed and studied to identify valuable attributes to be preserved, while other inappropriate characteristics and components were evaluated for elimination.

Though we certainly appreciate acknowledgement from our peers, the most gratifying aspect of our profession is always user satisfaction.

What one lesson learned surprised you concerning the Bloomfield renovation?

In the past couple of years, we have been pleasantly surprised to find that the traditional fire pole is making a comeback. Very early in the programming and planning processes for the Bloomfield fire station, it became clear that we would be developing a 2-story fire station. Chief [George] Duncan was not only willing to consider the fire pole as a primary response circulation system from the sleeping areas to the apparatus bays, but rather he requested it.

What is the most challenging aspect for fire chiefs when creating a new building?

It can be confusing, and even intimidating, not knowing where to start if they have not undertaken this type of effort in the past. Most fire chiefs have a good idea of what they need in a new facility, but many are not familiar with the necessary processes that lead to the completion of a new facility. There are a variety of informative materials available to assist with these early planning stages, and a couple I would recommend as starters are the International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation's Fire Station Planning, Design and Construction by Robert H. Ely and the American Institute of Architects' You and Your Architect by David Haviland. [Ed.: The IAFCF's book currently is out of print but a new edition will be published next year.]

What would you recommend as a fire chief's first step to starting a new station project?

Planning is as important, if not more so, as the plan. Contact an architect with a history of proven experience in the design and development of successful fire stations. A fire station is most typically a public project that must be implemented through established processes and procedures, including adherence to the jurisdiction's procurement guidelines. Talk to your local government's procurement officials about these circumstances as these preliminary discussions can be invaluable.

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