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San Luis Obispo Airport Station No. 21
San Luis Obispo, California
Photography:
Lawrence Enyart, FAIA, LEED, AP
2006 CMACN Awards Edition, “CMU Profiles in Architecture”
Jury Comments: Reflecting the form of an airplane wing, this rescue facility has an aerodynamic quality that blends in well with the airport context. The mix of concrete masonry units is well handled and detailed. The use of concrete masonry as the primary exterior and interior material is a beautiful and appropriate finish. The steel and glass elements articulate the entry and accent the views to the runways.
San Luis Obispo Regional (SLO) Airport ARFF Station No. 21
encompasses the replacement for the old airport Fire Station
that fell victim to seismic challenges, and airport
expansion. From the inception of the project, the Architect
established project design goals of; minimizing emergency
service response time, improving the quality of life for the
Fire Department personnel located at the airport, and
setting a progressive new “airfoil” design theme
for other airport structures to follow. These goals were
applied to every facet of the design, from aircraft noise
attenuation, evacuation of diesel exhaust fumes,
environmental filtration systems, the building’s
orientation, natural light, natural ventilation, and the
selection of sustainable energy saving materials.
The new SLO Station No. 21 includes three large apparatus bays for crash-rescue, structural, and EMS missions. Other features are: living, kitchen and dining areas, private dormitories for airport fire fighters, infectious disease control room, turnout room, physical fitness/exercise area, workshop/SCBA storage, equipped with emergency power, radio, and dispatch and data systems.
Important design contextual elements are the rolling California hills, aircraft forms, industrial aviation environment, and a busy existing passenger terminal. The Architect’s design theme provided an airport emergency service building that would enhance the aviation environment and be a progressive feature building for San Luis Obispo Regional Airport.
Concrete masonry was chosen for use throughout the majority of the project for complete exterior and interior use. Smooth and split-face integral color concrete masonry was used to sustain longevity for maintenance, thermal mass, and in particular, to provide sound attenuation from the busy and noisy jet aircraft airport environment. The considerable amount of integral color interior concrete masonry is lightly sandblasted with accentuated deep joints. The LEED AP Architect felt it was essential to use sustainable materials with low maintenance as feature architectural elements in the visionary “airfoil influenced design” of SLO Airport Station No. 21.
Architects:
LEA
- Architects, LLC
1730 E. Northern Avenue,
Suite 110
Phoenix, AZ 85020
Lawrence
Enyart, FAIA, LEED AP
Architect, LEA Principal
Lance
Enyart
LEA Project Manager
Structural
Engineer:
TLCP Structural Entineers
General
Contractor:
Leon Construction
Masonry
Contractor:
Curt J. Bailey Masonry
Block
Producer:
Air Vol Block, Inc.
Owner:
County of San Luis Obispo, Dept. of General
Services
CDF / San Luis Obispo County Fire Department
