Gerald R. Ford International Airport Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Facility

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority contracted DLZ to perform a Feasibility, Programming, and Concept Design regarding the relocation and consolidation of the airport’s Primary Communications Center (PCC), Operations, Police, Badging, Airport Rescue and Fire-fighting (ARFF), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) services.

Following an extensive needs assessment with project stakeholders, DLZ provided architectural and engineering concept design services for a new ARFF Facility on the east side of the airfield. The proposed program is approximately 22,000 gsf and includes five drive-through apparatus bays, administrative office space, fitness, a dormitory, and living space.

Construction is complete on a new, adjacent Operations Center, including an Emergency Operations Center and Communications Center. As a critical operations facility, the new facility will be the first on the Airport campus and one of the very few communication centers in the state of Michigan, constructed in accordance with ICC 500 storm shelter requirements to accommodate wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour. This design criteria includes the provision of a building envelope with a missile impact rating defined as a 2×4 traveling at 100mph. The project also includes redundant mechanical, electrical, and fiber services.