DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EN

1935

EXISTING RENOVATED

GINE CO. 16

2018

RENOVATEDEXISTING

STATION HISTORY. Designed as a showpiece of the City Government by prominent Architect Albert L. Harris in 1935, Engine Company Number 16 was one of the fi rst buildings commissioned by the District of Columbia. The three story building, with a partial basement, housed the fi re equipment and common spaces on the fi rst fl oor, the living quarters for station personnel on the second fl oor, and the Fire and Police Clinic on the third fl oor, the latter accessed through a separate courtyard. The clinic included medical records storage, doctor’s offi ces, operatory with recovery area, and dentistry. These facilities treated on the job injuries and provided standard medical exams for the Fire and Police Depart-ment personnel. As the facility aged however, it became clear that the critical infrastructure that once supported its crew members was no longer adequate to meet the operational needs of a 21st Century fi re department or the expanding DC metro area.

EXTENT OF RENOVATION. In 2016 the District embarked on a major renovation of Engine Company 16 including demolition of the interior spaces to support a new fl oor plan design and new building systems including mechanical and electrical systems. Work on the exterior of the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in-cluded widening the bay doors, window and roof replacement, gutters and downspouts, restoration of the cupola, and stabilization of existing masonry elements. In addition to modernizing the facility, the design strived to return the 80 year old structure to its former glory as a civic landmark. Specifi c features included recreating and installing the lost original copper weather vane, replacing the copper vaulted dormers, refurbishing the stately cupola, repairing/refi nishing the original terrazzo fl ooring, repairing the original fi re poles and safety cages, stripping/refi nishing the existing central stair, and re-purposing the existing marble wall and shower panels to use as counter tops.

MATERIAL REUSE. Both modernization and preservation of the fl agship District of Columbia Fire Station were central to this project’s goals. As the fi rst due Fire Company to the White House, EC 16 has a proud history of national signifi cance. Built during the Great Depression, many building materials are no longer available and, accordingly, the architects iden-tifi ed numerous unique building materials for preservation and reuse. For example, antique glazed wall tiles that were to be concealed by the new design were carefully salvaged for use as replacements for prominently visible broken tiles. Adjacent new walls employ glazed CMU in order to be compatible with, but not upstage, the historic tile. Marble slabs in the original restrooms were also salvaged and re-purposed as toilet partitions and new lavatory counters, thereby giving the restrooms both historic recall and a durable “upgraded” character. RESTORATION. In order to increase the width and height of the apparatus bay doors in the ornate masonry façade, the architects removed the exterior brick and granite below a limestone course at the second fl oor. The granite was saved and cut to fi t between the new larger bay openings and new brick was installed using the old details and coursing to create a cohesive masonry composition that avoids obvious patching of brick, stone, and grout. Prior to removing the old brick and granite, temporary shoring of the front façade was installed to ensure structural stability was maintained while the new, wider doors; brick; and stone were installed. The central open stair was retained and refurbished. The stairwell was enclosed on the second fl oor with a glass wall that proudly features a sand blasted etching of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department seal. The capstone to the project was the architect’s deci-sion to reinstall the weather vane, previously lost to history, by re-fabricating the copper weather vane from the original blueprints.

LIFE SAFETY. Other modernizations were undertaken to both enhance the life safety of building occupants and provide for modern operations of the fi refi ghters. The elevator was enlarged to ensure a stretcher could safely transport injured people from and provide ADA compliant access to all levels of the building. The installation of a sprinkler system was carefully coordinated with the historic plaster ceilings to ensure fi re protection could be provided while preserving the historic character of the spaces. The station alerting system was expanded to provide coverage for the full building in-stead of only being provided in the apparatus bays.

PUBLIC SAFETY. Providing safe and welcoming interaction with the public was also important to the Fire Department and design team. As a beacon of safety to the surrounding community, the new apparatus bay doors are painted a vibrant red. Public access during the day is provided through the bay doors, as Fire Department operations keep the apparatus bay doors open during daylight hours unless all apparatus are responding to a call. The other public entrances to the building are provided on either side of the front of apparatus bays as Department policies require one of the fi refi ghters on shift to man the Watch Desk at the rear of the bays in the event a visitor arrives at the station in need of assistance. A separate entrance is provided at the rear of the secure courtyard for the Department’s training and administrative offi ces located on the third fl oor of the facility. This secure courtyard also provides space for the station’s grill with easy access to the pantries and kitchen. By modernizing the building and adding contemporary features while preserving the historic character of the original building, Engine Company 16 now embodies the best of old and new for the next generation.

THIRD FLOOR THIRD FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR SECOND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR FIRST FLOOR

BASEMENT BASEMENT

OPERATIONS LIVING BUNK SUITE ADMIN SERVICE/MEP CIRCULATION

CONFERENCESTORAGE

ELEV.

MEDICAL FILES

ANTE.

ANTE.

ANTE.

ANTE.

ANTE.

ANTE.

ANTE.

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE OFFICE OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

MEN’S

WOMEN’SWOMEN’S SITTING

OFFICE OFFICE

ELEV.

RESTROOM

BATTALION CHIEF OFFICE

BATTALION CHIEF BUNK

OFFICE

HOSE TOWER

OFFICE

OFFICER BUNK

OFFICER BUNK

OFFICE

OFFICE

BUNK ROOM

MEN’S SHOWERS/LOCKERS

MEN’STOILET

FILING

SITTING ROOM SITTING

ROOM

KITCHEN

PANTRY

SHOP VENDING

LOBBYLOBBY

COMP. KITCHEN

HOSE TOWER

EMS STOR.

COMPANY OFFICE

WATCH DESK

APPARATUS BAYS

APPARATUS BAYS

STORAGE

DECON.

STORAGE SHOP

RESTROOM

ELEV. ELEV.J.C. J.C.

STORAGE

STORAGE

ELEV.

STORAGE

COALSTORAGE

ROOM

UTILITY TUNNEL

UTILITY TUNNEL

UNEXCAVATED

WATER SERVICE

ROOM

GEAR LOCKERS ELECTRICAL

ELEV.

STORAGE

UTILITY TUNNEL

UTILITY TUNNEL

UNEXCAVATED

UNEXCAVATED

WOMEN’S TOILET/

LOCKERS

MEN’S TOILET/

LOCKERS

BUNK ROOM

OFFICER BUNK

OFFICER BUNK

OFFICE

BATTALION OFFICE

EMS SUPERVISOR

BUNK

COMPANY OFFICE

OFFICER BUNK

OFFICER BUNK

ELEV.

LAUNDRY

CONFERENCE OFFICEOFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

EXERCISE

ELEV.

STOR.

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICEBREAK OUT

SPACE

CLASSROOM

SECURE FILES

MEN’SRESTROOM

WOMEN’SRESTROOM