Interplan Helps Growing Fire District To Save Ongoing Costs
In Its Design Of Three Fire Stations

The rapidly growing Orland Fire Protection District, southwest of Chicago, Illinois wanted to meet four main goals when it hired Interplan Practice, Ltd. to design a prototypical fire station and adapt the design for the creation of two more stations.

Cost effectiveness, energy efficiency, functional circulation and an exterior design that blended with its neighbors were the overriding objectives of the Orland Fire Protection District for its third, fourth and fifth fire stations, according to Deputy Fire Chiefs Bob Buhs and Bernard Morgan.

By working closely with the personnel who will be using the stations, Interplan created designs that were cost efficient, and will continue to be so, for the new stations which are intended to enable a four-minute-or-less response time to all calls in the Orland Fire Protection District.

COST EFFECTIVENESS

(1) Design fees were minimized: Through the design of a 8,100 square feet prototype station, Interplan could easily adapt the station for two other sites by a simple reversal of plan and eliminate the 3,300 square foot basement. Building the last two stations at the same time will save on architectural observation fees.

(2) Low maintenance was achieved through the use of quarry tile in high traffic areas, brick and stained cedar exterior materials and a singly-ply roofing system. Also, the HVAC system is housed indoors instead of on the roof, saving wear on the HVAC system and the roof.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency, a problem with many fire stations including the existing Orland Fire Station One, was a major issue Interplan was asked to address.

Since paramedic calls account for 75% of a fire station's bay doors opening, Interplan designed a separate ambulance bay with a lowered ceiling and a smaller door that reduces energy loss from the apparatus room. Significant fuel savings are also expected to be derived from the high insulation levels of the roof, the masonry

October 1987 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 17

cavity walls and an Infra-red heating system for the apparatus room.

FUNCTION

Buhs and Morgan set out two functional priorities for Interplan's response: to have a truly efficient fire station that is functional and to create a home-like environment for the personnel. A circulation pattern that does not require fire fighters to enter the apparatus area unless there is a need was desired. Therefore, the living quarters, work areas and offices form a U-shape around the apparatus bay. This creates a "back-in bay" rather than the conventional "drive-through bay" and grants direct access to trucks from all areas.

"One third of a fire fighter's career is spent in the station. So we wanted the stations as homey as possible," Buhs said. The sleeping quarters were designed for privacy by the placement of six foot high walls around each sleeping area. Walls surround each bed "room" but do not reach the ceiling so the whole room can be heated from one source. Through privacy, males and females can be housed in one room, which eliminates the need for separate quarters.

EXTERIOR DESIGN

Finally, the three new fire station sites were purchased in residential areas to minimize response time to fires. The architect's challenge was to design a fire station that would be residential in appearance and would be "good neighbors."

"We were concerned about the scale and appearance of the hose drying tower," said Ray Chocholek AIA, a principle of Interplan. "We responded by having the hose drying tower descend 11 feet into the ground and level with the basement rather than protrude through the residential-style gable roof." Also landscaping was designed in a residential style with a back patio for outdoor use during the summer. •

Page 18 / Illinois Municipal Review / October 1987