West Bloomfield Fire Station No. 3, Michigan
DLZ provided full-service architecture and engineering design services associated with a new four-bay, 11,439 square foot fire station in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. The space program includes the following:
- Four apparatus bays
- Workshop
- Hose room
- Air Pack Maintenance Group (APG) workspace
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) room
- Turnout gear room
- Decontamination/turnout laundry
- EMS room
- Operational storage
- Fitness area
- Watch room
- Training room
- Kitchen
- Station laundry
- Individual dorm rooms
- Individual toilet/shower rooms
- Locker facilities
- Dayroom
- Dining room
- General storage
- Officer’s quarters
The Design and Layout
The living areas are organized around a wide central spine, which leads directly to the apparatus bay allowing for a quick response from anywhere in the building.
The primary focus of the building layout is to meet the residential and privacy needs of the firefighters while maintaining quick response times, hot zone separation, and efficient site circulation. The site design presented some challenging site constraints, such as a long, narrow, oddly shaped site; existing fuel pump to remain; and the natural six-foot change in elevation. These site constraints were capitalized upon and used as opportunities to achieve a creative and successful design solution.
The form and exterior elevations of the building are responsive to the surrounding residential neighborhoods, which contain a mix of mid-century ranch style homes, contemporary luxury lake homes, and traditional-style homes. The design and exterior materials take cues from both the surrounding neighborhoods and the fabric of the Township, which includes numerous lakes and woodland areas.
All materials, interior, and exterior were carefully selected to achieve the Township’s goal of a 75-year life span as well as low maintenance, both long term and ongoing.
The design includes many innovative mechanical and electrical features such as daylighting interlocks, radiant in-floor heating, and individual cooling units in each space to maximize user controllability and efficiency of use. In lieu of a large detention pond, the site design utilizes bioswales for stormwater quality treatment and management. Other innovative site features include in-slab radiant heating for all sidewalks and apparatus bay aprons, and native plantings throughout the site.
DLZ performed services including architectural design, interior design, site/civil engineering, landscape design, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering, bidding, and construction administration.
