|
Fire Station Repair pilots Eco-Municipality
Task Force Goals
September 18, 2007
Repairing a fire station that was damaged has provided the City of Stevens Point and its Eco-Municipality Task
Force an opportunity to demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of sustainable design.
The damage that occurred was extensive, rendering the structure unusable until it could be repaired. During preliminary
design meetings with Becher Hoppe architects, city officials emphasized their desire to maximize the outcomes of
the repair within budget.
Since taking office, Mayor Andrew Halverson has appointed a 13-member Eco-Municipality Task Force.
The group will lead the city's process to create an economically, environmentally and socially healthy community.
Mayor Halverson has suggested the fire station project be a pilot to demonstrate the positive outcomes for the
city by employing sustainable design principles. Several of the Task Force's objectives would be embodied in the
repair, remodeling, and expansion of Fire Station No. 2. "It is critical for us to take full advantage of
this opportunity in order to set an example for what can be done sustainably" Halverson said.
The Eco-Municipality Task Force is developing recommendations that involve:
1. Development: land use and building
2. Water: quantity, quality and wastewater
3. Parks and tourism
4. Civic involvement and public education
5. Food
6. Energy: efficiency and production
7. Transportation
8. Waste and recycling
Vice-Chair Amy Heart, Alderperson and Programs Director for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), said,
"We want area residents, our community experts, to identify priorities and develop concrete recommendations."
The design team to redesign Fire Station No. 2 will include City staff, Becher Hoppe and its sub-consultants, MREA,
and Focus on Energy; a Wisconsin group that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
The Project
Fire Station No. 2 was originally designed to be an energy efficient structure that used windows for lighting and
passive solar elements. Those benefits were not realized and it actually costs more per square foot to heat Station
2 than the Headquarters Station on Franklin St.
According to Dave Oberbeck, project architect, preliminary design involved repair and remodeling to comply with
codes. City officials want to reuse the fire station instead of razing it because it is in a good location to serve
the community as it grows in the near future.
Planning discussions included critical analysis to maximize limited space in the building and on the site to accommodate
current and new fire fighting technology, equipment and procedures.
Supporting the Eco-Municipality Task Force, the integrated design will identify methods and specify materials that
contribute to its goals. New building technologies and techniques will be applied to increase energy efficiency,
improve the livable environment and reduce the cost of operating the building. Examples include application of
geothermal heating and cooling, and solar and wind power.
Remodeling will improve and streamline the space of the day room with its kitchen, dining and training facilities,
improve the library and computer area, toilets and locker rooms, and enlarge the exercise, decontamination and
work room spaces; with large expansions to the apparatus bay.
Expansion will add individual showers and sleeping rooms for female and male firefighters, and increase laundry
and personal storage areas. The apparatus room - where the fire trucks are parked - will be made longer. New and
larger space will be created for turnout gear storage near the apparatus room. The process will be moving forward
very quickly; with construction to start soon.
Members of the Eco-Municipality Task Force are: Mayor Halverson, Chair; Alderperson Amy Heart, Vice-Chair; Alderperson
Hans Walter, City Council President; Tom Barrett, Stevens Point Convention and Visitor Bureau; Bill Berry, Plover
River Alliance; Erik Carlson, Ellis Stone; Jackson Case, Architectural Service; Anna Haines, UW-Stevens Point Center
for Land Use Education; John Jury, Community Foundation; Steve Lane, Portage County Business Council, First Weber;
Lynn Markham, Land Use Specialist; Gene Numsen, Citizen Member; Carie Winn, Citizen Member.
For more information on the Stevens Point Eco-Municipality Task Force, visit their web page,
or contact Task Force Vice-Chair Amy Heart at 345-2739 or E-Mail Amy Heart.
|
