The City of Norwalk wanted its Fire Department to reuse its existing, very narrow site between U.S. Route 1 and I-95 to build its new headquarters and Federally funded EOC. Due to the site’s location and narrow dimensions, it was extremely important to factor in controlling noise pollution, extreme traffic conditions, and air quality throughout the design process.
Pacheco Ross Architects (PRA) helped obtain a $1 million grant from federally funded EOC and designed a four-story facility with a large mezzanine to add space within the high bays. Corridors, walls, and roofs were successfully utilized to protect the living spaces from noise and pollution. The large mezzanine spaces were designed adjacent to the bays and classroom. The mezzanine was designed to incorporate numerous active training regimens including a chargeable standpipe, interior rope training, rappelling points, windows, maze, bail out, smoke, blackout, ladder evolutions, floor-to-floor transfer, confined space, rescue hatch, and ability to create additional regimens. The new building achieved LEED Gold Certification by reusing the brownfield site, utilizing daylighting, passive solar gain, state-of-the-art HVAC energy saving systems, noise abatement, and continuous soy-based insulation, recycled materials, and bamboo flooring.
PRA faced significant challenges on this project, specifically as it related to the site’s narrow width. To manage this challenge, PRA coordinated the CM, City and Fire Department to acquire additional State owned land through negotiations with State and local DOT, City, and State agencies. The design allowed PRA to accommodate training facilities, firematic support, public areas, firematic offices, a highly secure city-wide IT center, apparatus bays, administrative spaces and the regional EOC within the new building.
