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J U N E 2 0 2 3 | 71 Windermere Fire Station 31 R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E S Y G H3 WINDERMERE FIRE STATION 31 by LAURIE JONES A s the City of Edmonton contin- ues to grow, so too does its need for increased emergency ser- vices. Located southwest of the city, the Windermere Fire Station 31 is a state- of-the-art, net zero energy facility that is powered by a complex array of solar panels covering the sloped roof, fea- turing stylish, rapid opening bifold bay doors for the trucks, and a geother- mal system that creates a comfortable living environment for the firefight- ers year-round. This iconic building blends traditional fire hall design with the natural environment nearby, making it a true beacon in the city. "This building can accommodate fire vehicles, surrounded by the sup- porting infrastructure that includes dorms for the firefighters, a kitchen, and fitness area," says Trish Kuffler, supervisor, project management for the City of Edmonton. "There is also a geothermal field below the park- ing lot that offers heating and cooling for the building. To create this, 35 bore holes were made, each being 230-feet deep. This is a big factor in reaching the net zero status, along with the 382 solar modules – each is 375 watts – to create a total capac- ity of 143 kilowatts for this facility. The insulation value to the facilities is much higher than a traditional build- ing to prevent heat loss through the roof or the walls. There is also under- slab insulation in the truck bays." Linus Murphy, principal, S2 Architecture, explains that the fire station is designed for a quick response, which is called the chute time. "Once an alarm goes off, firefighters have limited time to leave wherever they are – from the bed, or shower, or having dinner – find out where they're going, get into their duty gear, and get on the fire truck. The design eliminated unnecessary corners and doors. This fast chute time supports a criti- cally fast response time from the station to call destinations." He adds the exterior was also considered to expedite the response time, with a large visibility triangle for optimum views from and to the fire trucks. "The bifold doors also contribute to the rapid exit," he says. "They open about two seconds faster than traditional overhead doors and reduce damage to the trucks that can be caused by the overhead style. The aesthetics of the doors are impor- tant to the station's historic soul of a fire station." Murphy notes that although it's a relatively small building, it is a very efficiently designed site using about 50 percent less site area than other similar buildings. "There is a lot of equipment and highly efficient sys- tems, including the mechanical and electrical, which are all hidden inside. If the power goes out in the city, the generator will run for days. Even the boiler, which is typically 80 to 90 per- cent efficient, runs at 98 percent." Pat Hanson, founding part- ner, gh3, says in the design process they researched the history of fire stations in the Edmonton commu- nity and with a nod to traditional pitched roof appearance, they cre- ated an asymmetrical roofline that

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