Firestation 30 / Schacht Aslani Architects

The civic scale of Fire Station 30 marks the transition between the commercial activity of Rainier Avenue and the residential Mt. Baker neighborhood.  The scale and material presence of the two‐story building make  it  an  anchor  along  historic Mt.  Baker  Boulevard.  The  highly transparent  street  façade  allows passers‐by  to view activity within.  At night,  the  illuminated building becomes a beacon of  the Seattle Fire Department’s presence within and commitment to its community.

The  station  relates  to  nearby  civic buildings while maintaining  its own unique quality. Wrapped in  a folded plane of copper  skin,  its program  is  revealed  through a  series of pulls and  reliefs  in this  fabric.  Opaque apparatus bay doors within the transparent curtain wall are juxtaposed with the fritted station signage to create civic identity and a clear public presence. The station accommodates both the work regimen and the human comfort needs of its inhabitants. The compact  plan  and  simple  form  of  the  building  optimize  its  operational efficiency.   Room  adjacencies support a place for firefighters to work, relax, rebound and enjoy the camaraderie of station life.