3-Bay Station to Blend With Environment
Compatibility with the environment is a feature of the design of the second fire station to be built in the Village of Brookfield, Ill., a suburb west of Chicago. The Chicago architectural firm of Bernheim, Kahn & Losano created a design that blends with the residential neighborhood and surrounding public park.
The 6861-square-foot station is divided into four areas—an apparatus room, living quarters, a headquarters section, and a patio.
The three-bay apparatus room will include one drive-through bay and will house an elevating platform, two pumpers, and a paramedic team. Directly behind the apparatus room is a workshop.
The living quarters will include a carpeted dormitory, with vinyl wall covering, a 20 X 36-foot day room, kitchen, toilet and shower facilities, and a training room with a built-in movie screen.
Offices for the fire chief, fire protection bureau, and paramedics are in the headquarters section.
The nucleus of the building is a 14 X 16-foot outdoor patio, which offers complete privacy and serves as a link between the dormitory and headquarters offices.
Skylights in the apparatus room will reduce electricity costs, and the circulation fan in the apparatus room unit heater will draw the heat downward from the ceiling to the floor. This will help keep the room at a level temperature during winter months.
The walls are of earth-tone brick.
