Marion Fire Station No. 1 | Marion, Iowa, USA | 2021

Architects: OPN Architects
Lead Architects: David Sorg
Design Team: Landon Burg, Tate Walker, Mindy Sorg, Chad Schumacher, and Erica Steapp
General Contractor: Christner Contracting
Client: City of Marion
Photographers: Cameron Campbell and Alex Michl

“If everybody could work in a place like this, they would be so happy. By being in a building where they feel calm and comfortable it helps with relationships as well as their everyday stresses.”, Deb Krebill, retired fire chief, Marion Fire Department.

Challenged by the fire chief to design a station that would be a national benchmark for how biophilic design can reduce PTSD in firefighters, this two-level 21,000-square-foot fire station in a rapidly growing community reduces response time, establishes a strong and transparent civic presence, and uses biophilic design principles to support fire fighters physical and mental wellness. Fire Station No. 1 is the third for the city of Marion, Iowa, population 41,535. The site was intentionally selected to respond to growth in the city's northern neighborhoods and ensure that the city can meet the national standard of response times of four minutes for EMS calls and six minutes for fires. Between 2010 and 2020, Marion's population grew by 20%, primarily in the area where the fire station now sits. The city also uses a social vulnerability index, which uses the 2020 census data on poverty, dependent age, transportation access, racial and immigration status, and other socioeconomic factors that contribute to vulnerability to determine where this and future stations should be located.

The scale and massing of the structure are respectful to the surrounding residential neighborhood and take advantage of the views of the agrarian landscape to the west and north. Exterior gathering spaces and glass provide a direct connection to the circadian rhythms of the day as well as the seasonal changes. The simple plan is anchored by a two-story transparent apparatus bay. Extending east, shou sugi ban wood wraps the living and office spaces to add depth, texture, and contrast with the smooth plane of the glass. Shou sugi ban is wood charred using controlled fire in a technique that dates to 18th-century Japan and paradoxically makes the wood fire-resistant. Representing the mastery of fire, the material's beauty suggests fire's regenerative power and nature's resilience.

The focus on well-being pushed the building to be highly transparent in areas that have historically been designed with limited access to views and natural daylight. The floor-to-ceiling glass lobby is stretched across the north façade to become the primary first-level circulation. Exterior decks looking out onto green roofs provide a much-needed respite from the stressors of a first responder's job. The smaller private deck and larger deck create both prospect and refuge. While it is important for firefighters to have this amenity, they also do not want to be on display to the public, so these decks are enclosed by a trellis that provides both vertical and horizontal shading and privacy. Strategic sequencing of spaces, including a decontamination area, between the bays and the office and living areas mitigate exposure to fire and ash carcinogens to protect the fire fighter's health.

On the opposite side of the bays, the hose-drying tower also serves as a training area to simulate rescues. Training opportunities continue at the exterior where the retention pond is also used to train for ice rescues. The living areas, wrapped in full-height glazing with exposed wood ceilings, include a full kitchen, a large family-style table, and a TV and gaming area to ensure the firefighters have a variety of space types to relax and recharge. Circadian rhythm-based lighting is used throughout to ensure the firefighters’ wake-sleep cycle is synchronized with natural light while escalating alarms reduce physiological and psychological stress upon waking. The implementation of biophilic principles is having a profound effect on the firefighters’ wellbeing, including stress reduction and increased awareness and cognitive ability.