The City of Phoenix Sky Harbor Center Fire Station No. 16 replaced the former outdated station, which fell victim to rapid Sky Harbor airport expansion. LEA Architects Design Principal Lawrence Enyart, FAIA, LEED Fellow worked with the Phoenix Aviation & Fire Departments and established design goals of minimizing response time, improving personnel quality of life, incorporating sustainable design, and maintaining a strong sense of design quality as it relates to the airport context. These goals were applied to every facet of the design, from building forms, aircraft noise attenuation, evacuation of diesel exhaust fumes, environmental filtration systems, the building orientation, natural light penetration, and the selection of sustainable and energy saving materials.
Sky Harbor Center Station No.16, equipped with emergency power, radio, dispatch & data systems includes: three apparatus bays; living, kitchen & dining areas; semi-private dormitories for 8; infectious disease control room; turnout room; physical fitness / exercise area; workshop / SCBA storage. The design theme was to introduce an airport emergency service building that would respect and enhance its aviation environment and become a feature building for Phoenix Sky Harbor Center. The pallet of sustainable, energy saving, and sound mitigating materials consists of an insulated foam wall system, added insulation for thermal and aircraft noise protection, insulated sound absorbing glass, exposed curved steel beams, special bi-fold metal bay doors, deep ribbed horizontal recycled metal siding, and recycled curved standing seam metal roofs. The repetitive wing airfoil shaped roof forms reduces the scale of a large garage industrial building. The deep building setbacks, covered entry and patio, and the xeriscape landscaping contribute to the overall aesthetic. Numerous Regional and National Awards from AIA, IAFC, FIERO, Fire Chief Magazine have been received by LEA Architects.