The challenge: design a fire station prototype that’s functional, durable, and adaptable to unique sites—then implement each as efficiently and inclusively as possible. As the first application of these prototyped studies, Firehouse 55 is a fully functioning, standalone station from which Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to 500,000 residents in one of Oregon’s fastest-growing regions.
From the start, the station was shaped by active engagement with the people who know it best. We rode with firefighters on calls to understand their workflows, medical expertise, and day-to-day functional needs, while also participating in neighborhood meetings with an informed, engaged community association. TVF&R emphasized that their members are part of the neighborhood and the station should reflect that, leading to a responsive design that integrates shared community space alongside comfortable areas for firefighters to recuperate between calls.
Insights from the neighborhood helped guide a shift from metal to wood roofing, and a palette of colors and siding that better matches the surrounding residential context. Carefully tuned exterior lighting illuminates the station without overpowering nearby homes, the site is fully fenced for privacy, and the well-worn pedestrian path to the nearby elementary school remains accessible.
The site itself presented a challenge most stations avoid: a steep slope at the narrowest limit of the firetrucks’ turning radii. Working closely with landscape architects and civil engineers, we shaped a solution that safely accommodates large apparatus movement while keeping the station integrated with its community setting.
Nearly 10,000 square feet, photovoltaic-ready, and supported by solar-heated water, Firehouse 55 provides 24/7 living quarters for firefighters and EMS. Exterior insulation adds passive warmth, high-performance windows increase openness and visibility, and a public-facing community room can be rented by groups like neighborhood associations and Boy Scouts troops.
Inside, the bunk house, offices, kitchen, fitness room, lounge, apparatus bay, and outdoor BBQ area balance operational readiness with a humane, restorative environment—an efficient, uplifting post that helps make the region safer and more livable.
