This project was to replace the current Hampton’s Wythe Fire Station #3. The project is a one-story, 17,045 sf facility with four pull-through apparatus bays, a decontamination room, EMS storage, tool/compressor shop, outside equipment room, administrative/office areas, Capt./Lt.’s Suite, quarters and bath facilities for firefighters and EMS personnel, living spaces, kitchen and dining areas, laundry, exercise room, covered outside patio, lobby with vending alcove and public restrooms, radio/report room, IT Closet and Janitor’s closet.
PACE Collaborative provided the mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, and special systems design for the new facility.
The mechanical design included a new HVAC system that consisted of ductless split system heat pumps to provide thermostatic zoning and a dedicated outside air system (DOAS) with energy recovery to provide ventilation air and to positively pressurize the building. Exhaust for the dedicated outside air system (DOAS) serves as exhaust for building restrooms, janitor’s closets, and other misc. areas. The kitchen was provided with a Commercial Type 1 kitchen hood and a makeup air unit. The apparatus bay is heated utilizing infrared gas fired heaters and ventilated utilizing sidewall fans with intake louvers to provide cross ventilation. To combat stratification, high volume low velocity fans are being utilized.
The plumbing design consisted of plumbing fixtures, domestic cold-water, domestic hot water, including water heaters, domestic hot water return, storm piping, sanitary vent piping, and sanitary waste piping, including lint, grease, and oil separators as required. Plumbing fixtures were selected for durability and longevity. The water heater system was selected as a bank of five gas fired instantaneous heaters to supply the entire building’s hot water demand with the exception of the washer/extractor, which was provided with a dedicated water heater set at a higher temperature. A lint filter was also provided as required by the code for the washer extractor. An oil water separator was provided for drains in the apparatus bay and decontamination room. A grease interceptor was provided to serve the kitchen fixtures.
Seismic bracing was provided as required due to the seismic design category of the building as an essential facility.
The electrical design included a 1000A, 208/120V electrical service, with full building backup via an onsite 300kW, 208/120V diesel generator. Power is provided throughout the facility to serve the function of the building to include power to serve HVAC and plumbing equipment, command bus, motor operated doors, kitchen equipment, gear extractor and drying equipment, exercise equipment and USB receptacles in the bunkroom. Exterior and interior lighting is provided by energy efficient LED fixtures and code compliant lighting controls.
The fire protection design consisted of a wet pipe sprinkler system to protect all spaces within the building in accordance with NFPA 13. The system is monitored for tampering and flow conditions by the buildings Fire Alarm Control Panel. Consideration was given to special hazards such as fueled vehicles in the apparatus bay and various storage areas. The special system design included a fire alarm system and an emergency responder radio per code. The design included raceway infrastructure for low voltage systems such as telecommunications, CCTV, access control and the fire station alerting system.
