Bold Firehouse Looks With An Emphasis On First Responder Health

A New Model for Fire Departments

In the field, firefighters face some of the toughest working conditions of any profession along with an increased risk of certain types of cancers. Improper cleaning measures for gear, field equipment, and protective clothing can contribute to this. To lower or even mitigate these risks, new fire stations are being built to specifically address shortcomings in hazard prevention.  

One such facility is the Burnsville Fire Department in Burnsville, MN.  

When it came to the building envelope for this new fire house, planners relied on Nichiha to upend the traditional firehouse look. Two years of planning led to a truly special design, the construction of a model fire station for others nationwide. 

A High Bar for Design Needs 

The City of Burnsville turned to Minnesota-based CNH Architects to design the project. The firm has experience in designing government projects, vehicle service facilities, and public safety buildings. Even still, Burnsville Fire Station No. 1 was the firm’s largest public safety project at the time, clocking in at over 44,000 sq. ft. It includes 10 apparatus bays, multiple contamination zones, and a litany of other modern amenities. 

From the outset, the City of Burnsville sought a facility that would address the unique health and wellness needs of firefighters and one that would be aesthetically pleasing. After initially considering an exterior that utilized aluminum composite material (ACM) panels, cost quickly became an issue.  

“[Another architect] had used Nichiha on one other project prior to that or had started looking into it,” said Brooke Jacobson, principal at CNH Architects. “That’s when we fully looked into it for this project and thought it was a really good alternative. It still had good durability and was a much less expensive material to use than the ACM.”  

Architects landed on Nichiha’s Illumination cladding for the project. Not only is the product engineered with a built-in rainscreen, but it is also one of the most versatile from a design perspective. Illumination is one of several architectural wall panel (AWP) products that also offers custom colors that are available at no additional cost or minimum quantity. And at 5/8” thick, Illumination panels are resilient enough to face Minnesota’s notoriously harsh climate. 

“We have the extremes,” said Jacobson. “It can get up to 100 degrees and really humid in the summer. And in the winter, it can be 50 below with wind chills.” 

With Nichiha on the building’s exterior, firefighters are able to enjoy peace of mind with products that are not only fire resistant, but are also resilient enough against wind to achieve the HVHZ code requirements, a nationwide standard for storm resiliency.

Designs that Support Wellness Aims

Part of what makes Burnsville Fire Station No. 1 such a unique case is a deliberate effort to have the building support the health and wellness of first responders.

Specific details throughout the facility also make mental health a priority. Alert tones and building lighting, for example, slowly increase in intensity so as not to awake firefighters in a startling, abrupt manner. A yoga studio and meditation garden were built to help promote mental wellbeing. Specific areas for relaxation are designed with lighting that supports natural sleep rhythms. All of this is in addition to the physical fitness amenities and training offerings that one would expect from a firehouse.

Nichiha’s contributions to this effort set the stage for what is offered inside for returning firefighters. The look uses a custom shade of red and is a nod to tradition, but it also ushers the trade into the modern era. The result is a more modern look than the classic brick-heavy facades of other fire stations. Nichiha’s clean lines take a more minimalist approach, serving as a visual turning point in how the profession is viewed.

Specific Looks; Easy Installation

Because Burnsville Fire Station No. 1 is a modern firehouse, CNH Architects felt it should come with a modern look. Though some traditional elements like brick and masonry can be found on the building, Nichiha cladding is the bold element that supports the attention-demanding aesthetic. The custom shade of red for the exterior is a key to this modern visage. 

“ACM is very limited in the color choices,” said Jacobson. “One thing we’ve learned about fire departments is they are particular about their red. That was the other great thing with Nichiha. We could choose any red that matched and worked great for the department. And we could run with it because of the Illumination series.”

The Burnsville fire station opened in May 2022.