When Glenn Peters and Rand Thompson began work designing Port Moody's new fire hall, the architects were asked to balance two key requirements: function and appearance.
The structure is important for the safety of residents and will serve as a secondary post-disaster facility in the event of a large-scale emergency.
But it will also become the gateway to Port Moody's civic complex - city hall, the library and recreation complex - and will be an important cornerstone in the layout of the Inlet Centre neighbourhood.
"Without a doubt, this is a very prominent site," said Peters, an associate with Chernoff Thompson Architects, who with partner Thompson was commissioned to design the building. "This is not tucked away in a neighbourhood somewhere. This is really the entrance of the city complex. The first building you see that will anchor that corner is the new fire hall."
If the project is approved in its current form, the 20,000 sq. ft. structure will be built pressed up against the south-west corner of Ioco Road and Newport Drive. The portion of Knowle Street that extends south of city hall will be covered by the fire hall's parking lot and works yard.
A glass enclosure connected to the building at the northeast corner of the property will contain a vintage fire truck, which passing motorists will be able to see from Ioco Road. The roof of the building, which will be called Inlet Centre Fire Hall, will reflect sun light and collect grey water, reducing the hall's water consumption.
The architects worked with the city and emergency officials in laying out the interior of the building, which doubles as a second home for many of the city's firefighters.
"It is really like a jigsaw puzzle," said Chernoff. "You have all these competing requirements, you have all these pieces and you move them around until you get the best possible configuration."
But the new design is not without its critics.
Elaine Golds, president of the Burke Mountain Naturalists, said she is unhappy with the fact the fire hall will be built next to a stream. Part of the paved lot will cover a section of a nearby watercourse, she said, and several trees will need to be removed to accommodate the new facility.
"I have to note my dismay that we are building a fire hall next to a stream," said Golds (The Tri-City News' Green Scene columnist). "We are also going to see some significant tree loss. I do know we need a fire hall but I am disappointed."
Coun. Zoe Royer concurred, asking the designers during Tuesday's council meeting whether it is possible to re-configure the back lot so that it does not cover the watercourse.
Thompson responded that it would be difficult to meet the requirements of the fire department and the city without disrupting the stream. He said the back lot is necessary for training and to provide the emergency vehicles room to turn around.
"We were as green as we could be but we have to give them the space they need," he said.
He also noted the section of the watercourse that will be covered is not the primary flow, which is located further west in the nearby green space and will be uninterrupted.
The project is still a long way from being approved and Port Moody residents will get their first chance to see the new design at the city hall galleria on May 14. After that, the proposal will come back before council for further discussion.
