Fire Station No. 2 open house Aug. 26
Public invited to tour new station on Oconomowoc Parkway
"We're just about a day and a half from completion," of Oconomowoc's new Fire Station No. 2 off Oconomowoc Parkway, said Police Chief Dave Beguhn as he opened up a bay door to let some light in the now quiet station.
On Aug. 26, the public is invited to an open house from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. They can tour the new civic landmark that is planned to be operational by the first of September Beguhn said.
A story in the Focus last fall detailed the sustainable design of the new station ranking it as high as Silver LEED Certified, however Beguhn said the city chose not to pursue actual certification. To do that, an engineer would need to be secured and the cost more than $100,000 "just to get a certificate on the wall," Beguhn said. "I don't think the taxpayers would really appreciate that."
However, the point scale still exists for many of the efficiencies that were thoughtfully added to the building.
The light idea
Okauchee resident and owner of Lake Country Energy, Dave Hanson worked with the city to supply lighting for the station from Orion Energy Systems out of Manitowoc. The lighting fixtures called an Apollo Light Pipe can reduce peak electrical load by as much as 70 percent. Hansen said he's also worked with Oconomowoc Utilities to supply the lights in their buildings as well.
Hose tower
Reaching up from the center of the building is the hose tower. It will be used to dry the hoses eliminating the need for a high power dryer which reduces energy consumption and actually is better for the life span of the hoses.The tower will also be used by the firefighters for training. Crews will practice on ladders and even repel within the tower which will be a neat thing to see for visiting students from nearby schools and the community.
Facing south
The building faces south and the large amount of windows on the front of the building will draw solar heat in the winter reducing energy needs. Special overhangs were constructed over the windows so in warmer months, the windows will be shaded.
On top
The shingles on the roof are LEED compliant. They reflect the sun and as the Pabst area continues to build up and become more urban, the shingle design eliminates heat islands that occur within urban developments. Heat islands transfer heat from above below increasing the need for energy consumption to cool things. City officials opted to go with a red color called desert clay for the roof which is energy efficient and maintains the Pabst theme.
Water conservation
Because Oconomowoc does not sit within the Lake Michigan watershed, it's crucial to conserve and reuse. The fire station will have rain barrels that catch rainwater reducing runoff into the city's storm water system. Water will be directed to a decorative retention pond at Pabst Farms and each barrel is also equipped with a spigot that can be used to water landscaping at the station.
Lawns outside the building will be made up of plant life that naturally grows in the area which will reduce the need for maintenance and water in the long run.
Inside access
Architects were careful to make sure that firefighters had direct routes that link each room to the apparatus area without bends and turns to improve response times, minimizing seconds to answer a call.
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Photo of the Week by Scott Ash:
MANY HATS - Kathy LaShelle from the Town of Merton tries on a handmade hat from Jo's Feltz at the Delafield Winter Market on Sunday, Jan 15. The market is an indoor farmers market and craft fair located at the Delafield Fish Hatchery on the third Sunday of each month through April.
News or Feature Story of the Week by Joe Trovato: Area school districts jump into WEA lawsuit
Design Layout of the Week by Matt Colby: What a difference a day makes
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