In Southern California’s Rancho Mission Viejo (RMV), Fire Station 67 has been designed and constructed as a prefab, modular build—enabling faster completion and future reconfiguration.
Designed by Seattle-based Wittman Estes, the 4,667-sf station was prefabricated offsite as 10 modules that were then assembled onsite. The offsite fabrication and rapid assembly led to a streamlined design, documentation, and permitting process. This approach allowed for parallel site development work in California and factory construction in Nevada, resulting in a construction timeline of six months.
Fire Station 67: Modular System
The modular system also allows for relocation and reconfiguration. The sturdy, durable steel modules can be easily transported and rearranged for possible future uses, such as an environmental learning center for RMV.
Fire Station 67 includes a vehicle bay for two fire trucks, six sleeping rooms, a day room, kitchen/dining room, dispatch/workspace, and a captain’s office. The 12-foot modules were assembled around a shaded, semi-protected central courtyard.
Construction Strategy
The building configuration enables the firefighters to serve the public quickly while also feeling calm and privacy. The north-facing public entry, captain’s office, and dispatch room face the neighborhood. The more active areas, including break room, kitchen, and fitness rooms, face east toward the firetrucks. And the sleeping rooms and bathrooms are located in a quiet zone in the west. The firetruck bay is painted bright red, while the interior spaces have a neutral, tranquil palette.
In response to climate change and the rising risk of wildfires, the prefab structure is clad in fireproof, corrugated steel siding. To improve indoor air quality, Wittman Estes designed an open-air apparatus bay to bring in fresh outside air and eliminate the need for large exhaust machines.
On the Building Team:
Clients: Orange County Fire Authority and Rancho Mission Viejo
Architect: Wittman Estes
Interior designer: Birsel+Seck
Structural engineer: DCI Engineers
Landscape architect: Land Concern
Civil engineer: Fuscoe Engineering
GC: Xtreme Cubes
Related Stories
Modular Building | Mar 17, 2020
Danish hospital is constructed from 24 steel frame modules
Onsite construction was completed in two weeks.
Modular Building | Feb 16, 2020
On the West Coast, prefab gains ground for speedier construction
Gensler has been working with component supplier Clark Pacific on several projects.
Modular Building | Nov 18, 2019
A modular solution to help reduce homelessness
DOME is a Perkins and Will-designed prototype whose goal is to provide bridge housing to the unsheltered.
AEC Innovators | Aug 13, 2019
Stacking the deck: Marriott International embraces modular construction
The hotel giant has more than 50 projects in the works that incorporate prefab guestrooms or bathrooms.
Modular Building | Jul 3, 2019
World’s tallest modular building rises in Singapore
The state has been pushing for improvements in construction management.
Modular Building | May 13, 2019
This Marriott is poised to take over the title as the world’s tallest modular hotel
Danny Forster & Architecture designed the building.
Sponsored | Modular Building | Jan 22, 2019
Folsom Hotel opens five months early using modular construction
Early check in? With modular construction the answer is yes!
Modular Building | Oct 31, 2018
Europe’s citizenM is trying to crack into the U.S. hotel market with steel-framed modular construction
Projects in several cities are in various stages of development.
Modular Building | Oct 12, 2018
DeSimone Consulting Engineers designs the tallest modular hotel in the United States
The hotel was originally designed as a cast-in-place concrete structure.
Modular Building | Sep 25, 2018
Amazon invests in a prefab module supplier
Los Angeles-based Plant Prefab targets single- and multifamily construction.
