Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/755184
86 | DECEMBER 2016 Brighouse Fire Hall No. 1 Brighouse Fire Hall No. 1 by PETER STENNING I f it weren't for its name emblazoned across the threshold stating its purpose, the building could be easily mistaken as belonging to a university campus. A study in rectangular forms by HCMA Architecture + Design, the building appears from a distance to have four handsome oversized glazed entry doors set into grey masonry; this is framed by another rectangular and jutting masonry-clad form of darker grey, which in turn is framed by a recessed taller rectangular structure of glazing and bright red metal panels, capped by a flat roof that cantilevers out and swoops upward on one side. The entire structure is also augmented to one side by an L-shaped form, with the tall part of the L rising up dramatically to the rear. But looks are deceiving: the oversized glazed entries are actually garage bay doors, and the tall part of the L is in fact a hose tower. Welcome to Brighouse Fire Hall No. 1, located near Richmond's Minoru Park in B.C. – an area that is also anticipating a new aquatic centre, a new older adult centre and space for other recreation and community needs. The new LEED Gold facility will, when completed by the construction team of Stuart Olson next year, serve not only as Richmond's central fire hall and headquarters, but also be home to Richmond Fire- Rescue's administrative offices, Fire Prevention and Public Education. The floor plan and preliminary form/character reports for both the Minoru Complex and Brighouse Fire Hall No. 1 were approved by City Council in October of 2014. According to John McGowan, acting general manager, law and community safety, City of Richmond, the impetus for a new headquarters was obvious; the existing No. 1 facility was outdated and susceptible to damage if a major earthquake occurred. The City, HCMA, and a host of professionals including structural consultants Fast + Epp, mechanical and electrical consultants AES, and PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc., converged to create a new $22.3-million, post-disaster rated building with four bays and 25,240 square feet in size – an expansion from the outdated 17,000-square-foot facility. McGowan says, "the integration of services was vital to the success of this project, since previously Fire Prevention services was located across the street from the old fire hall. But for the sake of not jamming too many services into one space, we chose to relocate our training and mechanical support components to our new Fire Hall No. 3, currently nearing completion." McGowan adds, "while No. 3 had to undergo extensive site preparation because it was a new location, we had the advantage in No. 1 of working on a site that was, largely, ready to be built upon, save for structural work that had to be performed to account for a footprint and loads that were different from the old building, and Fast + Epp and Stuart Olson having to raise the site by a metre to ward off the potential for flooding." One of the early challenges was relocating fire crews while work got underway at the site. "We decided to move them across the street to a commercial building that we would renovate and expand with a shelter for the vehicles," says Darryl Condon, managing principal, HCMA. But the relocation wasn't simply a matter of sprucing up an old structure. Mechanical and electrical consultants AES had to ensure all communications and electronics of the old fire hall would be functional in the temporary facility. "Complicating matters further was a small building on the original site that housed traffic controls for the City; that too had to be dealt with," says Condon. "Design work continued as we prepped the temporary facilities." As for what kind of exterior appearance Brighouse Fire Hall No. 1 would assume, Condon remarks, " the look of the building evolved as a result of achieving the program requirements. For example, we wanted the administration component to be distinct and separate from the fire hall, hence the masonry of the base building and the lighter glass and metal panel of the storey above." The design also had to accommodate potential future expansion. Condon adds, "Plus, considering the proximity to Richmond City Hall, we wanted to provide a strong civic expression, hence the overhanging, upward swooping roof. Similarly with the nearby development of the seniors and aquatic facilities, our building had to 'fit in' visually, so the architectural language needed to respond to these more public building types." Construction began in early 2015 with the relocation of Fire Rescue and Administration staff; demolition of the old Brighouse structure followed, along with site bearing and lateral capacity improvements undertaken by Fast + Epp. AES' electrical design includes lighting and light controls, data/ voice cabling and outlets, fire alarm system, exit and emergency lighting, and power and conduit for door access controls, security systems, audio- visual and specialty equipment. Operating on a construction management model, Stuart Olson has met all timelines without suffering undue or unforeseen challenges, and the facility is expected to be ready for operation by the spring of 2017. Although as of November PWL had not yet commenced landscaping work, senior landscape architect Jenna Buchko notes, "We're preparing for a start early next year. Our firm is also doing the landscaping for the nearby aquatic centre, so although the particulars of the fire hall landscaping have yet to be determined, there will definitely be a certain synthesis of styles for the two projects." McGowan points out that while Richmond over the past decade has built three new replacement fire halls and completed a major renovation and seismic upgrade on another existing facility, Brighouse Fire Hall No.1's completion is keenly anticipated. "We're looking forward to repatriating a variety of services under one roof and providing the public with a beautiful new building to look at," he says. "Given the complexities of post-disaster building requirements, the project has proceeded very smoothly – and needless to say, we're happy with the result." A LOCATION 6960 Gilbert Road, Richmond, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER City of Richmond ARCHITECT HCMA Architecture + Design CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Stuart Olson STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Fast + Epp MECHANICAL CONSULTANT AME Consulting Group Ltd. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT AES Engineering Ltd. CIVIL CONSULTANT Aplin & Martin Consultants Ltd. LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. TOTAL SIZE 25,240 square feet TOTAL COST $22.3 million RENDERINGS COURTESY CITY OF RICHMOND