La Crosse, Wisc., had a fire department that was in a bad spot with its facilities – until recently, as it began some much-needed upgrades, beginning with replacing its Fire Station Number 2. Not only is this the city’s first new station since 1967, but it also replaces a building that went into service in 1957.
The new station features many modern upgrades along with space to serve as the administrative headquarters for the entire department. Its exterior’s clean, contemporary lines are highlighted by modular metal wall panels in three neutral tones arranged in an eye-catching checkerboard pattern.
Of course, La Crosse isn’t alone in having to address aging infrastructure. Fire stations, like many municipal buildings, provide vital services to their communities, but they often suffer from age-related maladies. And, while storage of department vehicles often is these structures’ most visible function, they also incorporate space and systems to support the firefighters who often spend days at a time living in them.
In modern fire stations, this includes adequate sleeping and living space, along with showers and fitness areas. Additionally, separate decontamination areas allow those staff a way to wash off hazardous materials to which they might be exposed during their duties – these facilities are often missing at older stations.
Addressing these shortfalls was an obvious need, and critical for the architects with the Eau Claire, Wisc., office of Wendel Companies as they made their plans for the new structure – but so was creating an exterior design that would be attractive and durable enough to last fifty years. They chose their materials accordingly, including two styles of masonry, glass curtainwall and the modular metal wall panels.
Working with installers from BlueWaters Companies of Ham Lake, Minn., they specified Petersen’s PAC-CLAD Modular AL panels. Approximately 3,700 sq. ft. of the panels fabricated from .050-gauge aluminum in three finishes – Granite, Sandstone and Champagne – were used. The panels’ relatively pale tones add light to the building’s second story and provide balance with the dark brick used to call out the equipment bays.
Editors: If photos are published the following credit is required: Photos: alanblakely.com
