West Natick Fire Station #4 Wins AIA NYS Design Award
The American Institute of Architects’ New York State chapter awarded the West Natick Fire Station #4 a citation in the Institutional Category of their annual Design Awards competition. Designed by Architect of Record Tecton Architects with H2M architects + engineers providing the firematic design, this 25,000-square-foot station prioritizes first responder safety and wellness, department camaraderie, and connection to the community.
First responders who work around-the-clock shifts are vulnerable to disruptions to their circadian rhythms, which are the internal clocks that regulate healthy biological processes. Jet lag is a common and temporary example of a disrupted circadian rhythm. More extreme disruptions can lead to issues with sleep, alertness, fatigue, headaches, and depression, all of which are hazards to first responders. To protect their health and well-being, the West Natick station uses soffits, sound absorbing materials, triple-pane windows to shelter the living quarters from noise and pollution. Windows maximize natural sunlight and ventilation while shades allow night crews to rest during day hours. MERV 13 filters and optimized carbon dioxide monitoring maximize air quality. The station’s interior finishes use color, textures, and forms to create a relaxing atmosphere that promotes mental and emotional well-being.
The layout places informal meeting areas, such as the kitchen, dining, and patio, adjacent to the bunk suite to promote camaraderie, communication, and collaboration. The gender-neutral bunks and shower rooms support fluctuations in staff demographics and help all types of people feel comfortable in the station.
The fire department highly values its relationship with the surrounding neighborhood and wanted to make sure that the station felt like it belonged to everyone. To that end, the project scope included a public pocket park next to the station and a textured plaza that encourages pedestrians and vehicles to slow down and pay attention to their surroundings. Slowing down has the dual benefit of improving mental health through proximity to nature and improving the physical safety of pedestrians. A curved bike and jogging path continues from the pocket park and traces the curved edge of the station, encouraging community fitness, while a triage room in the publicly accessible lobby promotes safety. At night, the transparent tower that marks the public entrance lights up the night like a beacon.
As a bonus, the all-electric station is a LEED Silver-equivalent facility with roof-mounted photovoltaics that exceeds the Massachusetts “Stretch” code energy standards by 30 percent. The design also features a high-performance building envelope, enhanced fenestration performance values, high-efficiency boilers, and LED lighting.
The design team is honored to be recognized for excellence in architectural design and our commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and cultural context.
