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Recognition

  • Special Citation Award for Renovation, AIA Maine Design Awards 2019
  • New Hampshire Preservation Alliance Achievement Awards 2018: Elizabeth Durfee Hengen Award
  • Honor Award, AIA New Hampshire Design Awards 2018:  Rick & Duffy Monahon Award for Design Excellence in Architectural Restoration and Preservation
Overview: 

Oak Point Associates was asked to find space for co-locating three City departments, housed at separate sites.  Options included renovating an abandoned 1905 fire station adjacent to City Hall, demolishing that building and building new in the same location, or looking at remote sites. Community interest was mixed; some expressed interest in saving the former fire station, others were concerned about cost and viability. After carefully evaluating the building’s structural integrity and calculating renovation costs, the decision to renovate was reached.

The condition of the original brick and granite façade was unknown, as it was concealed behind a flat brick veneer and glass-domed elevated connector to City Hall that were added in the 1970’s. Through forensic investigations, research and grant funding, restoring the original façade was ultimately included in the $2.9M project budget.

The exterior brick wall was examined for its structural integrity and found to be sound. Insulating the wall was a concern, as changing the hydrodynamics of the brick by insulating could slow the release of water and cause the freeze/thaw cycle to expedite deterioration. Hydrophilic insulation and a humidity variable diffusion membrane were selected to ensure the longevity of the existing wall. The system lets water vapor pass through, allowing the wall to “breathe” while also providing significant amounts of insulation.

 “It shouldn’t be standing” was the engineers’ consensus after evaluating the existing second-floor framing system. At some point a 4” topping slab was added to the wood-framed second floor, adding considerable dead load. The design replaced the slab with a lightweight leveling system. The preserved historic fabric is accentuated, and the original brown board sheathing and floor joists are exposed alongside new, blonde, rough sawn reinforcing wood members. Much of the first-floor ceiling was left open to the structure above.

The building sits on an urban site flanked by City Hall and the current fire station, within a park-like setting. It is accessed from a main thoroughfare at the front and from municipal parking at the rear.  The site was re-graded to provide an accessible route from both areas without utilizing ramps.   A brick seating area with café tables, and granite curb walls matching those at City Hall, were added at the building’s front entry for all to enjoy the renovated building.   

Client: City of Rochester, NH
Features:
  • Adaptive reuse of an early 20th century historic fire station.
  • New office spaces within the building allowed the co-location of three separately housed City departments.
  • Great care was taken to restore the original brick and granite façade, as well as to provide insulation of the exterior walls without hastening deterioration.