Project Overview
After the population of Valdez, Alaska, quadrupled in size over 50 years, its fire station needed an upgrade. Valdez Fire Station 1 also needed to be relocated to effectively house modern fire trucks and equipment.
PND led the civil and structural design for the new public safety facility—the primary responder to fires and emergencies in the Valdez community. Our design team paid particular attention to the apparatus bay floors, incorporating reinforced concrete slabs with steel rebar and load-resistant grading. Water-resistant washbays with special drainage and ventilation systems offer an updated design to match the new fire trucks and equipment they service.
Our Role
- Structural Engineering: designed bays with reinforced slabs, created adequate grading to support the weight of modern fire trucks, constructed the foundation using continuous strip and spread footings
- Civil Engineering: managed site grading, developed sewer and water connections and stormdrains, oversaw removal and replacement of existing pavement
- Surveying: conducted topographic surveys and replatting to ensure accurate site measurements and layout for construction
Answering the Call for Community Help
Our design was focused on reducing turnout time (the time it takes to depart after a dispatch call) so requests for community aid are answered efficiently by Valdez’s full-time employees and volunteer responders.
The new facility designed by PND meets current fire station construction and operation standards, and also includes administrative offices and essential emergency systems such as alarm systems and a backup power generator. The design’s focus on function and durability will allow the fire station facility to meet current and future demands.
Completed in 2021, the new facility not only accommodates office, administrative, and storage areas, but also features decontamination, workout, and day rooms, ensuring the firefighters and volunteer responders are always ready to answer the community’s call for help.
