Role of Today’s Firehouse Design
New York firehouses were built in waves, with one cycle coming at the end of the 19th century and another in the 1950’s to 60’s. Advances since then have rendered these buildings obsolete. From 1890 to 1920, fire engines transitioned from horse-driven wagons to gas-powered trucks. New York buildings grew taller. The role of the firefighter broadened to emergency responder. More ladders and more types of equipment called for larger trucks.
Turn-of-the-century firehouses shared similar features—decorative facades, typically brick with ornamental limestone around the windows and entrances. Large garage doors allowed horses and carriages to thunder out onto the street. Today, if you go down into the cellar of an old firehouse, you will probably find a virtual forest of lally columns. These tubular steel columns filled with concrete have been added to shore up the floor joists above and accommodate the greater weight of trucks versus the carriages of old.
It’s rare to find new firehouses being built today. Nowadays, most efforts focus on gut renovations triggered by the necessity to replace street level floors that cannot handle the load of heavy trucks. Once a budget is created and extensive renovations are underway, the entire building is updated. Sleeping areas, bathrooms, kitchens, workout spaces, and lounges are all redone. The new firehouse design transitions from a frat-house feel to a home where firefighters live in comfort while awaiting the call to serve their community.
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