The City of Lakewood Fire Station #2 is one of Ohio’s oldest surviving fire stations. Plans for a new apparatus bay on the east side of the station, originally constructed in 1919, presented a challenge: How to maintain the building’s historic identity while adding contemporary features?
The primary objective of the new 30’x88’ addition was to provide storage for the station’s current pumper truck, while also allowing the flexibility to accommodate the city’s aerial truck as needed. This layout facilitates the squad’s positioning in the current apparatus bay with direct access to Detroit Avenue.
Eric Pros, Director of Design at DS Architecture, also wanted to put a creative spin on the building’s exterior. Pros, who has collaborated with IMI and BAC craftworkers on several projects, watched an IMI webinar where he saw a project that used specially shaped bricks to create a projecting façade. That inspired him to explore a similar approach for the station, and he reached out to Tom Elliott, IMI Director of Industry Development and Technical Services.
With the help of BAC Local 23 OH/WV/KY/MD, Elliott and a team of apprentices built mockups at the Northern Regional Training Center to create a proof-of-concept for the design. Pros saw the combined expertise of IMI and BAC’s skilled craftworkers in action, which helped the project get awarded to BAC signatory contractor United Masonry.
The long, tall façade of the apparatus bay, which could have felt imposing or out of scale with the rest of the neighborhood, instead presented an opportunity for public art and innovative wayfinding signage. A Flemish bond brick pattern was used to create a textured backdrop for a metal sculpture, providing depth to the field of brick.
The corner of the building that faces the road received special brick detailing attention by rotating the stretcher units 30 degrees, forming a block number 2 resembling the fire department’s insignia on their vehicles.
In addition to the building’s dramatic appearance, the optimization of both the existing and new apparatus bay has also enhanced the department’s functionality, emergency response capabilities, and overall safety.
“I think it’s going to look sharp and be a great way to pay tribute to all those who serve at Station #2,” Pros said.
Pros was honored with the 2022 JBC Award in the Young Architect category for a body of work he submitted, including the fire station, which celebrates creative but cost-effective uses of masonry.
