The Construction Management Division of the Public Works and Transportation Department has been awarded a 2018 American Public Works Association Texas Chapter Project of the Year award for their work on Fire Station 12.
This project was the first major renovation of the station, which is adjacent to the Arlington Municipal Airport, since its opening in the 1980s. Construction began in January 2017 and was scheduled to be completed in November 2017; however, through efficient project management construction was completed a month ahead of schedule.
The $1.9 million voter-approved bond project was designed to meet the 2015 Edition of the International Energy Conservation Code adopted by the State of Texas in 2016. This code sets forth energy conservation requirements for all aspects of energy uses in both commercial and residential construction, including heating and ventilation, lighting, water heating, and power usage for appliances and building systems.
By adhering to the energy conservation code's standards, the City of Arlington is reducing its environmental impact by optimizing the use of fossil fuels and nondepletable resources. During the design phase, emphasis was placed on maximizing the use of existing structure to minimize the potential negative impact on the environment that is associated with a complete rebuild.
The innovative design solutions resulted in the need for only a small new addition to meet the needs of the Fire Department. Additionally, the reuse of the existing structure minimized the environmental impact and carbon emissions associated with the project by requiring fewer new materials to be produced, acquired, and transported to the work site.
In addition to creating nearly 1,000 square feet of living space, the project also included adding a second drive-thru bay for fire apparatuses, installation of a charcoal filtration system in the apparatus bays that is activated with the doors are opened, replacing the traditional bay doors with "four-fold" doors that open and close in 5 seconds instead of 15-20 seconds, and a reinforced foundation that can support future aircraft firefighting apparatus and rescue vehicles.
Fire Station 12 is located at 5050 South Collins Street, Arlington, TX 76018. The award will be presented at the Texas Public Works Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth on June 28, 2018.
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