Wednesday, January 12, 2022
their temporary station at 1840 Cameron Glen Drive to their sparkling new station on their former site 1820 Wiehle Avenue, all while crews were running calls Thursday, Jan. 6.
Just shy of two years ago, on Jan. 28, 2020, a similar scene played in reverse. A-shift had the distinction of moving out of the old station and into their temporary station. Their old one-level station, deemed "grossly undersized" at 7,750 square feet, as described in the Feb. 19, 2018 project description, was demolished in March of 2020.
The two-and-a-half-bay structure designed in 1972 lacked sufficient space for existing equipment and operational support functions. It could not meet the needs of the department, expanding to meet Reston's increased service demands with the additional high-density commercial and residential development due to the expansion of the Metrorail to Dulles Airport.
The approximately $15 million two-level station nearly doubles the size of its predecessor with its 17,150 square feet and four drive-through apparatus bays. Constructed with a contemporary look to complement the urban feel of Reston Town Center, LeMay Erickson Willcox Architects of Reston targeted LEED Silver certification with sustainable design strategies that include site selection, water use reduction, regional materials, recycled content materials, low VOC interior finishes, and Photovoltaic panels.
According to the architect's portfolio, "The new building expands support function through updated gear lockers, shop and storage rooms, control room, and lobby all connected and easily accessible to the first-floor apparatus bays. To meet the increased shift sizes, 41 parking spaces were required, thereby reducing the usable land for the building foot print resulting in this two-story design. The living quarters, administrative offices, and bunk and locker rooms were programmed above the apparatus bays along the second floor of the facility."