Monterey Regional Airport in California was undergoing a multiphase program of expansion of its facilities, which required repositioning of several core airport functions. The airport’s aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) station was among a number of buildings that had to be repositioned, so the airport had MarJang Architects design a new station that was built by BlueScope Construction and Mill Construction.
Chris Morello, deputy executive director of planning and marketing for Monterey Airport, says it was necessary to increase the distance between a runway and taxiway, which meant a number of major support buildings had to be relocated. “The ARFF station and some general aviation hangers were the first buildings to be repositioned, and in the case of the ARFF station, the old one was demolished and a new facility constructed at the same time,” she says. “The new ARFF station is a little more than 10,000 square feet in size, with four single-deep, back-in apparatus bays that hold a Rosenbauer Panther ARFF truck, an E-ONE Titan ARFF truck, and a mobile command center that face the runway and taxiway areas.”
Karen Mar, a principal at MarJang Architects, says MarJang and the airport chose to go with a single story pre-engineered building because of the timetable they were facing. “It’s a steel structure with insulated metal wall panels, and a pitched insulated standing seam metal roof,” she observes. “This project came in a $9.7 million, was federally funded, and received LEED silver certification that was earned through use of its materials, water conservation, and efficient electrical systems.”
Mar says the new Monterey ARFF station has three hotel-style dorm rooms with dedicated en-suite bathrooms, a shower/toilet facility in the main living area, an open concept kitchen/dining room/dayroom, a watch room that looks out over the airfield and into the apparatus bays, captain’s office, exercise room, conference room, laundry, and apparatus bay support areas.
Those support areas include a decon room with an extractor/washer and gear dryer, a turnout gear storage room, a work room, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) room, first aid room, general storage, a foam tank room, and mechanical, electrical and information technology (IT) rooms. She adds that a backup generator is positioned outside at the back of the structure.
Morello points out that the new pre-engineered metal station has a multitude of windows for natural daylight in the living areas, clerestory windows in the apparatus bays for additional natural light, high efficiency mechanical systems, and LED lighting throughout the structure. “We were very pleased to be able to get the LEED silver certification for this station,” she says.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Arizona-based journalist, the author of three novels and five nonfiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Editorial Advisory Board. He served 22 years with the Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including in the position of chief.
