Client: District of Central Saanich Location: Vancouver Island, BC Size: 21,000 sf Budget: $6,500,000 Status: Completed in 2014
Protective / Emergency Services
Central Saanich Fire Hall No. 1

Central Saanich Fire Hall No. 1 is a composite space designed to work as hard as the career firefighters and volunteer brigade who are headquartered there. On the surface, it serves as both a fire hall and as a post-disaster emergency operations centre. Behind the scenes, it also functions as a LEED® NC – Silver Certified facility, minimizing environmental impacts and maximizing energy efficiency in a variety of innovative ways.

The project integrates regional architecture with site design to ensure that the post-development storm water runoff from training areas and the parking lot does not impact neighbours or local storm systems. A geothermal loop and solar panels provide environmentally friendly energy to the building. Local materials and labour were used throughout.

Sustainability

LEED® NC Silver Certified

Awards

  • Firehouse Station Style Design Award (Gold)
  • F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design Award (Merit)

To best protect both firefighters and visitors, a deliberate separation of firefighting, office and accommodation spaces emphasizes the decontamination separation zone between operational areas and administration. Gender-neutral dormitories provide efficiencies while the large kitchen and dining room allow space for first responders during a crisis.

Building relationships

At JDa, we’re proud of our track record of success in helping clients engage with the communities in which they work—before, during and after each project. In Central Saanich, we participated in an ongoing public dialogue at a series of town hall meetings and received valuable input into the project’s design and implementation. We believe that this robust public process helped secure project approval after just one round of voting.

Four tandem drive-through apparatus bays accommodate eight trucks, allowing for quick emergency response and optimized, two-way traffic and personnel flow. Below-grade pumper test pits allow for on-site apparatus test pumps and water access training.

Office spaces, the training room and other spaces throughout the building benefit from natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting.

Operational, functional and administrative areas are well separated to ensure safety and efficiency for all.
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