2021 PCI Design Award Winner: FDNY Rescue Company 2| PCI Mid-Atlantic

FDNY Rescue Company 2 Overview

In Brooklyn, New York, the New York City Fire Department’s (FDNY) Rescue Company needed a new facility to train elite forces so they could more effectively respond to a range of different crisis conditions. These specialized fire and rescue personnel needed a facility capable of simulating a variety of emergency conditions, which included releasing heat and smoke through voids in the structure to enable them to practice finding safe means of escape.

PROJECT / PRECAST SCOPE

• Build a three-story fire rescue facility in a busy Brooklyn neighborhood.
• The project included 95 precast concrete elements.
• Precast concrete erection was completed over two months.

2021 PCI Design Award Winner – Best Government and Public Building

Designed and developed by a project team of architects, engineers, and PCI-certified producers and erectors, the FDNY Rescue Company 2 is an adaptable three-story structure with a safe, highly resilient building envelope. After studying the tools used by the department’s emergency workers, the architect and project team determined that total precast concrete was the best solution for this rugged building’s composition, as it provides a thermally efficient, fire-resistant structure.

PROJECT TEAM

• Owner: Fire Department of New York Facilities Management, Long Island City, N.Y.
• PCI-Certified Precast Concrete Producer: High Concrete Group, Denver, Pa.
• Architect: Studio Gang, New York, N.Y.
• Engineer of Record: Thorton Tomasetti Engineers, Chicago, Ill.
• General Contractor: ZHL Group, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• PCI-Certified Erector: JEMCO Erectors, Inc., Shamong, NJ

This PCI Design Award-winning building features two large interior voids enclosed by precast concrete insulated sandwich wall panels which are punctured by strategically placed windows and openings. Both the interior voids and façade openings allow the department’s rescue teams to prepare for typical emergency situations, such as balcony rescues and entering smoke-filled manholes. In addition to being a safe haven for FDNY personnel, Rescue Company 2 is a crucial piece of civic infrastructure, highlighted by visually striking glazed terracotta accents.

The unique, innovative building also features a lush green roof, a geothermal HVAC system, and a solar water-heating system that reduces energy use and lowers the building’s carbon footprint. Inside, motion-sensing LED lighting helps conserve electricity. When fire and rescue personnel aren’t practicing for urban emergencies, they can relax and unwind in the backyard and cook on the grill, both of which are welcome additions to the Rescue Company 2 space.

Achieve More with Precast

This workhorse of a building provides a literal safe haven for fire and rescue workers, while also serving as a comfortable, functional workplace. Thanks to the versatility of precast concrete and the talented project team, FDNY Rescue Company 2 won a well-deserved design award for Best Government and Public Building this year.

To learn more about the project, visit the project profile page.