EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Fire Station 14, completed in the last few days of 2018, is the City’s newest station and filled an urgent need for frontline and EMS protection on the City’s southeast side. In compliance with a 2008 City of Madison Common Council resolution, the newly constructed Fire Station 14 meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED©) requirements and achieved LEED v3 NC Platinum Certification in April 2019. 

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Fire Station 14 is a model of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability for the Fire Department and the City of Madison. Through a truly integrated design process, the whole team was brought to the table early in the project to highlight opportunities, set goals, and establish roles and responsibilities from design and construction through the occupancy period. The team embraced this integrated process and maximized sustainability within the limited project budget.

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NOTABLE SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES USED IN THE PROJECT:

The City of Madison Fire Department operates 14 fire stations throughout the Madison metropolitan area, with resources regularly extending outside the city limits. Recognized as a national leader in providing emergency services, the Madison Fire Department has several specialty teams including Hazardous Material, Lake Rescue, Heavy Urban Rescue, and supplements the city’s emergency services by providing progressive, cutting-edge fire prevention and community education programs. The City of Madison Fire Station 14 opened in December of 2018, filling a significant gap in emergency medical service and fire protection to the city’s far-southeast side and providing space to house up to a double company and medical unit. This state-of-the-art facility includes 6,000 square feet of community meeting and training space. This area accommodates continuing education, as well as Recruit PAT’s (Physical Ability Test), Incumbent Standards, and other training evolutions. Integrating a larger community space into Fire Station 14 addresses deficiencies in the area and provides opportunities for community meetings, engagement, education, fire prevention, health services (community paramedicine), and more. The engine will be Madison Fire Department’s first full-time Paramedic Engine.

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The design process for FS 14 followed the AIA Framework for Design Excellence (formally known as the COTE Top 10). It consists of 10 measures and organizes thinking, facilitates conversations and sets meaningful goals and targets for climate action. The project achieved LEED BD+C New Construction v3 Platinum Certification on April 10, 2019.

The building provides views to elements of nature, living systems, and natural processes. Regularly occupied areas of the building are located close to the perimeter to maximize views to the exterior. Benefits include reduced stress (lowered blood pressure and heart rate), more positive emotional functioning, and improved concentration and recovery rates. In addition, exterior walls are designed for durability. Opaque walls include a full masonry backup wall; continuous air, water, and thermal barriers; air gap; and a masonry or panelized rain screen system. The apparatus bay contains a curtain wall application of translucent panels, providing additional insulation as well as a source of natural light. High-performance HVAC and lighting systems were utilized throughout this facility. LED lighting is used on the interior and exterior. There are occupancy sensors for both lighting and HVAC, and several spaces also have automatic daylighting controls to eliminate the need for artificial lighting at certain times of the day. A geothermal heating and cooling system is used to meet the facility’s cooling needs and a large portion of its heating needs. The geothermal system is connected to a low-temperature radiant floor heating system that is supplemented by a high efficiency condensing boiler. A 50-kW solar PV system and a small solar hot water system offset a portion of the facility’s electric and gas use. 

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