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J U N E 2 0 2 3 | 83 Canmore Fire Station R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E S Y M E TA FO R CANMORE FIRE STATION by NATALIE BRUCKNER T he new Fire Station in Canmore not only boasts an impressive and visually striking design but is also a true testament to sus- tainable architecture, reflecting the Town of Canmore's commit- ment to enhancing the community's quality of life through environmen- tally responsible initiatives, climate action, and wildlife co-existence. Located on Palliser Trail, the sin- gle-storey Fire Station is a shining example of zero-carbon building design. It's not only carbon-neutral, but has been designed to generate excess energy that can be sold back as carbon credits in the future. Achieving this level of environ- mental responsibility required a significant effort by all involved, as Lesley Bannister, facilities project manager at the Town of Canmore, explains. "Following a spatial needs study across the organization in 2016, it was evident that the existing Fire Hall, constructed in 1986, was too small to meet the current and future needs of the Canmore Fire Rescue Services, and there was no room for expansion on site. Therefore, a new facility was essential." Following the Spatial Needs Study, a comprehensive Fire-Rescue Staffing Study and Master Plan was completed. The results of this study served as the foundation for the Fire- Rescue Strategic Plan and led to the selection of the Palliser Trail site. The greenfield site proved ideal for several reasons, including access to transportation networks and response times, potential for future development, and as a perfect loca- tion for a post-disaster building. Previous studies provided an essen- tial framework to begin the design of the new Fire Station, which began in 2020 with the partnership of Metafor (prime consultant) and Johnston Davidson Architecture (fire station specialist). With a long-standing rela- tionship with the Town of Canmore, Metafor's principal, Mike Woodland, understood the nuances involved and was thrilled to be part of the process of bringing new life to what is con- sidered the gateway to Canmore. Key design considerations for the new fire station included efficient lay- out of eight bays for fire trucks and key equipment, with a designated training room, and increased stor- age alternatives to utilizing the bays. "Having a clear delineation between the 'clean' side of the fire station and 'dirty' side was also a key feature, as well as having increased room for training including an interior train- ing room and exterior training pad for active exercises," explains Bannister. From an energy efficiency per- spective, the Town's goal was to build a facility that mirrors net-zero require- ments. Metafor also wanted to design a building that would be high profile and represent the values of Canmore, while drawing inspiration from the surrounding mountain landscape. "The inspiration for the building form and the high angled parapets came from the Three Sisters [the trio of mountain peaks]," explains Woodland. PCL Construction used a com- bination of non-combustible and high-performing building envelope materials including Hardie board, Longboard, and corrugated metal siding to help create the design with colours that mimic the striations seen in the limestone of the mountains. Moreover, the skilled placement of wood elements creates a mountain style and provides a warm atmo- sphere. This careful attention to detail creates a sense of harmony between the structure and its environment. Upon entering the fire station's main entrance, visitors are greeted with an inviting layout that ensures increas- ing levels of privacy for firefighters the deeper one ventures into the building. The reception control area features wood slat ceilings, exposed concrete and vinyl floors, and a prominent red accent wall that symbolizes the sta- tion's connection to firefighting. Moving further into the build- ing leads to the living quarters for the firefighters, designed to evoke a home- like environment. The dorms offer a sense of privacy with an outdoor patio that is fenced on three sides. One of the key design elements is the open glulam interior assembly in the appa- ratus bays, and numerous windows to maximize the building's stunning views. According to Bannister, "the open space is both beautiful and func- tional, and will remain timeless." The fire station's operational fea- tures are a highlight of the building, designed with both safety and sus- tainability in mind. The eight bays, hose tower, and storage rooms are strategically placed to ensure visibility and accessibility, while also allowing ample natural light to flood the space. Additionally, the building's sustain- able systems are impressive, including fire resistant exterior materials and PV array on the roof. By 2025, as the Alberta electricity grid gets cleaner, the PV array is expected to offset all CO2 emissions created by the station's natural gas use. The air source heat pumps, which will be used 95 per- cent of the time, are supplemented by a natural gas boiler on colder days, with a backup generator available in case of power outages to ensure the building's post-disaster resilience. On reflecting on the project, Bannister says its success is down to the remarkable collaboration and ded- ication of everyone involved. "This has been a true team effort, with Kristine Bain, facilities project manager at the Town of Canmore, leading the plan- ning process for this facility, while I had the opportunity to lead the exe- cution. As the community grows, this facility will remain long-term, ensuring a safe and sustainable emer- gency response facility. Together with Council and all of our community stakeholders, we're celebrating that this beautiful facility will be here in the decades to come. We'll all be able to tell our grandkids that we helped build this facility, and that this facility helped shape the vision for sustain- able buildings in this community." A LOCATION 1200 Steward Road, Canmore, Alberta OWNER /DEVELOPER Town of Canmore ARCHITECTS METAFOR / Johnston Davidson Architecture + Planning Inc. GENER AL CONTR ACTOR PCL Construction STRUCTUR AL /CIVIL CONSULTANT ISL Engineering and Land Services MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Introba L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT McElhanney TOTAL SIZE 18,500 square feet TOTAL COST $16.975 million

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