Martin County (Fla.) Fire Rescue added eight dorm rooms from Royal Concrete Concepts to its Fire Station No. 32 in Hobe Sound. The dorm rooms, made of pre-engineered concrete, total 5,000 square feet.

"These dorms will provide a safe haven for us from hurricanes at the station, which is almost 35 years old," District Chief Cliff Appe said. “The units seem very well built and will do the job more than adequately."

The concrete units were delivered on July 16 and the work took approximately four weeks. The fire station remained fully functional as work progressed.

These modular units can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20%, according to the manufacturer. They are engineered with concrete, polystyrene and reinforced steel to withstand hurricane-force winds.

The eight dorm units arrived fully compatible with the fire station's telephone, communication, emergency and other systems. The project included adding two bathrooms because facilities don't currently exist for the firefighters to shower.