Projects: Protective Services

South Station Fire Hall No. 5

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Fort McMurray, Alberta, LEED^® Gold Candidate

South Station is a joint-purpose facility combining a fully functional Fire Station, a Central Maintenance Facility, and Regional Emergency Operations Centre (the latter two serving the entire region of Wood Buffalo). The $19.38 million, 42, 184 sf. building is a landmark for local residents and was carefully designed to facilitate specific training needs, as well as day-to-day operations in a sensitive and sustainable manner.

The exterior's angular tectonics were designed with the combination of cladding materials Prodema, aluminum paneling, and metal siding, that are functional, economical, and still create an attractive façade.

The training tower's exterior was clad with masonry to minimize damage from rappel training, and the stairs were designed to accommodate FireFit training for Fire Department personnel. The tower anchors one end of the building's "spine", a dividing feature which acts as an operational separation between the tandem response vehicle bays and the tandem vehicle maintenance bays. The spine also serves as an indoor climbing wall used in training.

The interior finishes are durable, simple to maintain, and complement the functionality of the Fire Station. Near the front entrance is the prominent Firefighters' Memorial Plaza which is appropriately used for special commemorative ceremonies, and features stained and patterned concrete, a statue pedestal, and curved concrete memorial walls.

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