This net-zero-energy fire station is home to 11 firefighters and includes a three-bay apparatus garage and a 50-person multipurpose room. Sustainable features include geothermal mechanical systems, a radiant slab, photovoltaic power supply, bioswale stormwater filtration and a high-performance envelope.

Critical to the net-zero goals, the exterior skin was conceived as an organic shell. It is composed of glass-fiber-reinforced concrete panels and zinc metal cladding. Panels were fabricated off site in a controlled environment to ensure exact sizes, precise joint spacing and the highest possible quality. Both materials have a high level of recycled content and provide a durable, low-maintenance finish. High-performance window assemblies incorporate thermally broken frames and triple-paned glazing units with ceramic frit. Air-infiltration tests and coating mil-thickness tests ensured the envelope would perform as designed. Perforated rainscreen cladding allows daylight to penetrate while reducing solar heat gain. 

Crews were challenged by the tight site between a golf course and a residential development. During excavation, artesian wells were discovered. Designers solved the soil-saturation issue by incorporating a series of French drain trenches tied to a bioswale filtration system. Although unforeseen conditions can derail a project’s schedule and budget, the project team worked collaboratively to meet both goals on Fire Station No. 3.

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