(Image courtesy City of Winfield)
The City of Winfield and Agora Architecture of Winfield are nearing completion of design work on the long-planned addition to the Fire/EMS Station in downtown Winfield, according to a press release from the City Tuesday.
The City expects the project to go to bid in summer/fall of 2020 and construction to begin in winter 2020. The addition is the first part of a phased approach toward the completion of a voter approved Public Safety Center in June 2019 which will include new facilities for police as well.
Winfield City Commissioners recently reviewed the designed floorplans and renderings of the proposed addition. The rendering showed a building with six large apparatus bays, a training tower, decontamination areas for firefighter and paramedic gear and improved site drainage.
“The City’s design focus for the station has been toward functionality and long-term durability, while not sacrificing the historical feel of downtown,” said Patrick Steward, city engineer.
The current station, built in 1886 and added onto in 1931, is said to be one of the oldest stations west of the Mississippi still in active use. The proposed station is designed of steel structures and the use of stone to provide a lasting facility.
The current apparatus bays require that the City purchase special made vehicles that will fit through the 1886 designed openings and structure design. The proposed addition’s new apparatus bays are designed for the future and will be conducive to the larger vehicles of today’s fire and ambulance services.
Perhaps the most obvious part of the addition is the training tower element. According to Vince Warren, fire/ems chief, the tower has both function and aesthetic value.
“The tower obviously has visual appeal to represent our Winfield history,” Warren said. “It also significantly increases on site training. Financially speaking, the tower gives the City the potential opportunity to lower our ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating. That benefits everyone in the city who must purchase fire insurance. The lower the rating, the lower insurance costs.”
The four-story tower is designed to flow water internally, allow rappelling, laying hose line, small space rescue, ladder truck training and various other rescue training scenarios.
Firefighting has changed over the years and the new station is designed to keep hazardous carcinogens on the “dirty” side of a building. The new station will feature specific decontamination space that will safeguard against spreading contamination to “clean” areas of the facility. This design will protect firefighters and paramedics and any visitors to the facility such as families.
“This is a standard in station design these days,” said Warren.
The current station is planned to be converted to office and living spaces with a secure customer entrance from the south end of the building.
The current facility and the existing site for the addition is on a main drainage path in the community. Those drainage concerns have been addressed in the plan using a proposed bio-swale that will run the length of the block. This green infrastructure is a cost-effective way to manage inundation from wet weather events. The bioswale is designed to encourage surface drainage, naturally treat stormwater before it reaches the storm system and slow down the flow of the water.
“Unlike concrete, which delivers all of the rainwater at once, bioswales can slow water down in most rain events,” said Steward.
Based on the current planning timeline, Steward said he expects the City to bid this phase of the project this summer.
