Description

EC 63 was originally built to house a double company, but a Battalion was added due to local needs. Overcapacity had caused temporary decisions to become permanent. What was once designed as a locker room was serving as office space. Safety issues had been forsaken for operational issues. To get the battalion truck out for a run, the firefighters had to move the engine out of the way.

As a winner in the design excellence competition, TGAS was awarded projects with the City of New York. This expansion of an existing fire station is clad in a terra-cotta rain screen, with inset cement board panels. Grey was chosen as a conceptual record of ashes found after a building fire. Southern sun is modulated with a brise-soleil (sunscreen). The expansion doubles the building’s size, and meets stringent design guidelines set by FDNY. A new battalion bay, new house-watch, decontamination area, slide pole, commercial kitchen, and other elements are on the first floor. The second floor includes new dormitories, offices, training room, study rooms, locker and fitness rooms.