On April 30, 2011, the City of Saco dedicated a new Central Fire Station to replace a very old, inadequate building that had been designed for apparatus built in the 1930’s. After a special election was held in 2010 where voters approved a $6 million bond, Mohlin & Company became Structural Engineer of Record as part of the design build team.
The new building measuring approximately 15,000 SF, is composed of an apparatus bay designed to house 10 fire apparatus, and a two story administration/ living area complete with administrative offices and training facilities on the first floor and living quarters on the second floor including gym, full kitchen, 9 bedrooms, and a large day room. The building is constructed with masonry load bearing walls in the apparatus bay and a two story, steel framed, brick veneer admin building attached. Foundations are typical reinforced concrete spread footings, with slab on grade. Second floor framing is bar joist and composite deck and concrete slab. Roof framing is long span bar joists with 3” acoustical deck. Lateral bracing was provided utilizing a combination of steel bracing, steel moment connections, and reinforced masonry walls. Other features of the building include a geothermal heating system complete with in slab radiant heat in the apparatus bays, back up oil boiler and roof mounted solar panels.
With the commissioning of this new building the City of Saco can be assured of excellent, centrally located fire protection for years to come.
