The Boulder community came together on Friday January 24th to celebrate the opening of Boulder Fire Station #3 with an official “hose uncoupling” (in lieu of a ribbon cutting). This state-of-the-art fire station, designed by a team led by Davis Partnership Architects, exceeds the City’s Energy Conservation Goals (CoBECC) while providing an efficient and inspiring 100-year building that will serve the community’s needs far into the future. Boulder Fire Station #3 is an all-electric facility.  The expansive and distinctive roof protects the station, which is stepped back below the canopy. It serves as a beacon of safety while also maximizing opportunities for photovoltaics. The station’s PV system is estimated to offset approximately 65% of its annual electric consumption, according to energy models.  The structure is supported by columns created from reclaimed steel from the decommissioned Boulder Community Hospital, lowering the facility’s embodied carbon while bringing nature into the design.  Skylights and large windows provide abundant daylighting. Native and drought-tolerant landscaping is integrated with stormwater detention to create garden areas.  Low volatile-organic materials and finishes are featured in the interiors.

Boulder Fire Station #3 is a true home for firefighting and medical response crews and the design respects their need for privacy and security while balancing the community’s need for access and transparency. This is achieved through second floor living and gathering areas that keep firefighters connected, yet up and away from firefighting operations space and the street. These include battalion commander suites, a dayroom gathering space, a large kitchen along with outdoor terrace spaces extending to the green roof.  Fitness and exercise facilities are located below on the first floor and connected to secured outdoor areas.

The 22,000 sf fire station is augmented with 6000 sf of supporting administration space and a community room designed for use by the public without compromising security and privacy of operations spaces. The support spaces are located within Boulder Fire Station #3’s “red box,” which is artfully coordinated with apparatus and operations areas, and can serve as a prototype for future additions or modifications. The result creates a fully-functional fire station that can operate on its own, but offers room to grow and quickly and cost-effectively through the addition (or removal) of another “red box” as needed.

The design and construction team for Boulder Fire Station #3 includes Davis Partnership Architects for architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and lighting design. ME Engineers provided mechanical electrical and plumbing design, KL&A Engineers and Builders provided structural engineering, including the incorporation of reused steel in the columns. Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers provided civil design.  The project was built by a team led by Mark Young Construction.  Congratulations to the city of Boulder, Boulder Fire, and the entire design and construction team for the successful completion and opening of Boulder Fire Station #3.