Description

Engine Company 51 is an early 1900s Boston fire station in the Oak Square section of Brighton, Massachusetts. As one of the oldest fire stations remaining in Boston, it was in desperate need of repair. Along with our team of consultants, we organized this project to accommodate the needs of a modern fire department yet maintain the historic nature of the building.

Organized by the Boston Public Facilities Department, the project included removing a portion of the apparatus topping slab, installing a seismic bracing structure of new steel reinforcing columns and beams spanning the building’s height to ensure the station’s preparedness to respond to a natural disaster, updating the house watch, and adding two new emergency egress stairs, a new commercial kitchen and a new barrier-free restroom.

Further amenities brought the building up to modern standards. An ADA-compliant and code-compliant entrance and restroom were integrated into the existing structure, while other efforts such as an updated house watch, two new emergency egress stairs, and a new commercial kitchen created a more efficient, comfortable atmosphere within the building. A new site drainage system enables the new roof to drain properly, thereby correcting a longstanding problem of the roof draining into the basement. New double-pane windows bring the building into compliance with today’s energy efficiency standards.

Remaining true to the building’s historical value, the top-floor space had its original wood rafters exposed. Bricks were exposed in this space and in the stairwell.

Collectively, the renovations made to Engine Company 51 ensure that it is well prepared for another 100 years of service.