LDD MOC (WIP): Fire Brigade Expansion

[polarscribe]

The Fire Brigade is the most iconic modular of all, and certainly one of the best-designed. Classic proportions, fits perfectly in-era, creative building techniques... there's a reason it kept selling for years.

However, there could be said to be one thing wrong with it... there's not much room to grow. With only a single apparatus stall that's too short for LEGO's newer fire apparatus, and no office space or dispatch center, it's not exactly suited for the demands of today's fire-rescue operations. My LEGO town's fire department has been sorely tempted to move its downtown station to newer, roomier (if rather less impressively-built) quarters, such as the 60004 Fire Station. Even after gutting the second floor's interior to install a chief's office and dispatch center, and MOCing a modern "urban" engine that (barely) fits inside the garage, there's no room for a ladder truck or ambulance (never mind anywhere for the firefighters to eat and sleep!). The physical structure has simply been outgrown. What is our city's fire department to do about this dilemma? Demolish and rebuild? Adaptive reuse? There must be a better way, one which preserves and honors the historic nature of firefighting in our community while acknowledging the very real needs of the modern fire service.

Well, it just so happens that a recent natural disaster cleared a vacant 32x32-stud plot of land next door to the downtown station. The opportunity is not being wasted — a three-story addition is in the design phase, providing our community's brave firefighters with the space and facilities they need to continue protecting lives and property.

By pushing the building nearly to the limit of the land, two apparatus stalls are added that are long enough to completely house an advanced ladder truck and modern ambulance. A third, shorter stall is suitable for the battalion chief's command SUV. The use of precast thin brick panels on the facade pays homage to the original building's hand-laid masonry construction, while being both cheaper to build and more seismically-sound. The original building's apparatus stall architecture and design is also replicated, to create a harmonious and reasonably-uniform appearance. On the second floor, firefighters have room to eat and relax, and the (yet-to-be-designed) third floor will include sleeping quarters, bathroom and equipment storage.

The use of large aluminum windows front and back provides maximum natural light and encourages energy efficiency, while also ensuring that the new building is visually distinguished from the 1932 original construction — the goal is to create architectural harmony but not slavishly ape that which came before. The more modern addition should neither overtly stand out nor simply disappear.

[gazumpty]

Fantastic narrative...you must be an architect Id like to see the original built alongside to see how it sits in context and if your elevation details and design strategy hold up against the existing building.

Looking forward to this!

[lightningtiger]

Not bad digital design there 'polarscribe' and Brick On LDD On !

[CDM]

Looks good. I like the clerestory windows above the apparatus bay doors. Could use a pedestrian entrance on the street side if space permits. Looking forward to seeing the roof development...parapet walls, etc.

[legobuilder013]

nice ldd idea. i need to get back into using LDD again

[Firebrickbuilder]

This is my moc of the fire brigade station on a 48x48 base plate corner building, side entrance and drive through bays.

http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/371899

[chiusnake]

good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited November 11, 2015 by chiusnake