The 2016 Station Design Conference, held in Anaheim, CA, brought together nearly 200 fire department officers, municipal leaders, architects and manufacturers to learn about and share trends and innovations for new emergency response facilities. The results were a fantastic exchange of information and ideas.
One of my highlights from the conference was the keynote presentation by Paul Erickson, Principal, LeMay Erickson Willcox Architects, and Chief William Pearson with Atlanta Fire Rescue. In 15 years of covering fire station designs, I have seen some positive, significant changes in new fire stations. Their keynote on Hot Zone Design, however, is probably the most significant challenge since designated fitness rooms highlighted the importance of firefighter health and fitness. Erickson and Pearson sent a strong message about the need to address firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens and toxic materials inside the fire station.
Additionally, the conference offered a variety of educational sessions, tackling everything from how to build community support to using technology to improve response times to site construction costs. Designing a new fire station for the next 50 to 75 years, when responsibilities keep changing, is a tall order, but all attendees agreed the information was valuable and the time well invested.
Here, we share with you some of the indispensable knowledge offered at the conference: Read more….