H2M Wins Multiple Honors From AIA ENY
On June 18, the Eastern New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA ENY) awarded H2M architects + engineers multiple recognitions, including two design awards for a fire station in West Natick, Massachusetts and the chapter’s inaugural Educator Award for Director of Operations David J. Pacheco, AIA, NCARB.
The West Natick Fire Station #4 was born from the Town of Natick’s rapidly growing population. With approximately 45% of Natick’s 5,000 annual emergency calls falling within Station #4’s district, the old fire station could not keep up with the community’s needs. To meet those needs, the combined team of Tecton Architects, P.C. and H2M designed a 25,000-square-foot station on the same site as the old facility. Tecton served as Architect of Record while H2M provided the firematic design. The site is immediately adjacent to a freeway service road and surrounded by a residential neighborhood, large hotels, major businesses, restaurants, and the Natick Mall. The property was also oddly shaped, so, to ease and eliminate the challenges of the odd site configuration, the Town of Natick swapped a similarly sized piece of property the adjacent retail center.
The new station features the latest trends in firematic design to protect first responders from carcinogens and cross-contamination and promote health and well-being. Outside air units, MERV 13 filters, and carbon dioxide monitoring maximize air quality. The decontamination and turnout gear rooms transition between the main response areas and the bunk suite, thereby trapping carcinogens in the firematic part of the building, away from the living spaces. The living quarters are protected from street noise and pollution but have straightforward access to the bays for rapid response times. Ceiling soffits, sound absorbing materials, and triple pane windows further reduce sound. Windows are configured to maximize natural sunlight and ventilation while bunk rooms can be shaded to accommodate varied sleeping schedules and protect circadian rhythms. Advanced communications systems connect the station with other emergency services providers during crises and major events such as the Boston Marathon. Other community benefits include a pocket park, walking trail, and public triage space to promote public health. This LEED Silver-equivalent facility has roof-mounted solar panels and meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Building Stretch Code, which is an advanced set of state regulations that encourage buildings to achieve 30% greater energy efficiency than required.
During the AIA ENY award ceremony, the West Natick Fire Station #4 won two awards: the Honor Award and “The Best of the Best.” An Honor Award is the highest standard commendation presented by an AIA design competition. The Best of the Best is a surprise award presented to only one project per year and represents the jury’s favorite. The jury praised the West Natick project for its “strong spine” and for being “well-zoned and organized, effectively separating sleeping areas from the programmatic spaces, which sits nicely on the site…Its design creates visual interest from various angles, enhancing its overall appeal.”
The AIA ENY also presented H2M’s Director of Operations David Pacheco, AIA, NCARB with the chapter’s inaugural Educator Award in recognition of his commitment to architectural education in the region. For the last seven years, Pacheco has taught both undergraduate and graduate students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, focusing his lessons on how to build and operate a successful architectural practice, career paths, project management, ethics, contracts, legal requirements, financial management, delivery methods, and other critical skills for young professionals. In her nomination letter, RPI student and current H2M intern Miranda Luck-Travell stated, “I discovered my love for the professional practice side of architecture by having Professor Pacheco who was willing to engage in simple and complex questions, push my understanding of the topics with further research, and fulfill my enthusiasm for learning by mentoring me and expanding on the lecture topics outside of class time.”
