Pond was tasked by the City of Port Wentworth, GA to provide a design for a fire station of approximately 15,000 square feet in a newly planned development off GA SR 30, northwest of Port Wentworth. The facility was to be able to accommodate administrative spaces for daytime work, recreational and living facilities for on-call crewmen and their gear, the ability to house multiple fire apparatuses and emergency equipment, and the ability to function as an Emergency Operations Center in times of need.

During the design process Pond was challenged with revising multiple aspects of the building concept including its orientation, material palette, and even adding an extra apparatus bay, to total four from the original three, to meet both client requirements and to match the modern-contemporary aesthetic of the planned development in which the fire station is to reside.

The fire station features a metal panel system mounted to cold-formed metal structural components for its administrative/living recreational wing. This design created an opportunity to mitigate costs and provide a more expedient construction method. A large section of curtain wall both signifies the fire station entrance while also providing excellent views of the exterior and natural light for the on-call personnel utilizing the second-floor gym space. The fire apparatus bays are designed with a concrete masonry unit structure and with a ceramic-type cladding system with metal panel accents above the vehicle entrance bays, and an SBS modified bitumen roof system.

These materials were specified to help aid longevity and ease of maintenance, while also providing a robust system that can stand up to the wear and tear of an environment that includes frequent operation of large pieces of machinery. All the above come together to create a modern aesthetic that serves to give the building a unique identity unto itself, while also complementing other planned structures within the community.

Pond was given a tight deadline to design the architectural, structural, interior design, fire protection, and MEP portions of this facility. Not only was Pond able to meet an accelerated deadline and deliver the project documents to the client on time but was also able to provide all of the design services and final costs under the client’s budget.