Serving the downtown area, the architects and their consultants were asked to provide a design which would reflect and enhance the historic character of downtown Huntsville. Richardsonian in style, the design of the facility is solid and permanent in nature, emphasizing strength and resilience in its purpose: the protection of Huntsville’s citizens, as well as their property. The site requirements included a high demand for parking, including squad cars to be kept on site.The resulting solution required that the fire personnel be located above the apparatus bays to minimize the building footprint.Thus, vertical circulation was a challenge. Additionally, the architects were asked to salvage and accommodate features from the existing fire station #1, including a spiral stair. Due to a limited budget,the architects worked closely with the fire and police personnel to develop a building program which met the needs of each. It was necessary to be frugal, yet still accommodate the complex nature of the building systems required. The fire department functions of the 33,094 square foot facility include five fire fighting apparatus bays, a decontamination room, housing for twenty fire fighters, a commercial kitchen, a large day room, exercise room, and captain’s offices. The Police Precinct functions include captain’s offices, conference rooms, investigator’s offices, interrogation rooms, squad room, munitions storage, as well as spaces for community relations.
