South Bend Fire Department Headquarters and Central Fire Station
DLZ provided survey, architectural and engineering design services for the New Fire Department Headquarters, Regional Training Center, and Central Fire Station. The design was based upon site investigations, interviews with the South Bend Fire Department personnel, the City of South Bend Administration and City Council. Tours of other similar facilities were also conducted, along with open workshops with the fire fighters.
The previous Fire Department Headquarters and Central Fire Station was housed in the Municipal Services Facility along with the South Bend Police Department and Street Department. After performing a complete Program Analysis of the Fire and Police Departments, it was determined that a new Fire Department Headquarters and Central Fire Station would be relocated in a new facility to allow for the renovation and expansion of the Police Department Headquarters and Training facility.
Through the development of a partnership between the City of South Bend and Ivy Tech Community College-South Bend Campus, the new facility is located in the southwest quadrant of the Ivy Tech Community College’s campus and within the urban fabric of the City. The new facility is bounded by Michigan Street on the west, an alley on the south and an existing church and rectory facility on the north. Ivy Tech’s instruction facility is directly east of the new facility.
This project included 56,878 gross square feet of new construction, is configured on three levels and divided within four distinctive zones: 1) apparatus bay and support spaces, 2) administration area, 3) training, 4) fire fighters living quarters. Each area is distinct to achieve its own functional requirements, though the overall facility provides a uniform aesthetic.
The form and massing of the building is responsive to the function of the interior spaces and context of the adjacent Ivy Tech College campus. The exterior is constructed with masonry and glazed curtain wall systems to express simple, traditional forms and to create visual interest and harmony with the surrounding setting. The apparatus bay approach apron is clearly visible from on-coming traffic along Michigan Street, while the Administrative entry is located along the north building face to create a public and inviting entry, which is removed from the vehicular traffic along Michigan Street. Parking and service areas are visually shielded by the building and are located immediately east of the building.
