Emergency Services Department 2 Fire Station No. 121
Structural
The Bexar County ESD 2 Fire Station No. 121 project included a new fire station and renovations to an existing on-site structure. Gessner Engineering supported the effort from early design through construction by preparing structural plans, coordinating with the design team, and assisting during construction to ensure the buildings were delivered as intended. The facility includes living quarters, a mechanical mezzanine, an exterior patio, and durable apparatus bays designed to meet the demands of an active fire station, along with a renovation and expansion to an existing community building.
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Challenges
The architecture for the station dictated unique elevations coupled with elements of exposed structure. Wide overhangs, offset ridges and double wall assemblies, and framing-driven architecture presented the opportunity for the team to showcase structure as a key component of the station’s design. This also meant that coordination was imperative to ensure that the resilient structural design aligned with the architectural intent.
Solutions
Overhangs were framed with select exposed pieces of steel cantilevering beyond the wall face, trimmed with steel angles as louvers. Offset ridges required tight coordination for steel elevations. When this condition presented itself in the apparatus bays, it meant vaulting a span of roof joists to get to the interior girder line. Double wall assemblies with a parapet wall offset in front of gable ends required double layers of framing. They also presented the opportunity to buttress the full height frames and stiffen the assemblies. Exposed steel-rod trusses created a dynamic and engaging entry space that showcased structure while enhancing the architecture.
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