The $10.7-million Engine Company 16, the first LEED-Platinum firehouse in Illinois, features a geothermal heat-exchange system, a vegetative and reflective roof, permeable pavers and an aggressive stormwater management system. The facility also incorporates a circular apron to facilitate quicker response time and reset for subsequent responses.
Constructed of load-bearing masonry and exterior brick, the 20,000-sq-ft structure is designed to serve as a prototype for future Chicago stations, with dimensions conforming to those of a typical city block. In addition to maintaining parity in city neighborhoods, the approach promotes faster project delivery and a more favorable cost structure.