The drawings by the architect are based on the design that most people liked of the three options presented at the public meeting in June 2008. The joint City-community design committee met every two weeks over the summer to the refine the design you see here. The joint City-community design committee met every two weeks over the summer of that year to refine the design you see here.
There have been a few minor changes to the design since these drawings were prepared, the most significant being the decision to expand the size of the Lounge (the room with the fireplace in the upper right of the ground floor diagram. The lounge will be expanded into the former kitchen and reception office areas.
The design provides a much larger and more flexible community hall, ground floor main access to the building and a much larger and more versatile entry/reception area, more washrooms, two new programming rooms and a renovation of two existing programming rooms, new offices and a revamped pottery area. A new landscaped courtyard has also been included which is partially fenced in and can be accessed from the main hall. The building will be disabled accessible and has a small elevator to facilitate this. A new kitchen, suitable for catering events and cooking classes has also been added. Particular attention has been paid to try and maximize programming space, add more storage facilities, provide flexible, multipurpose uses for the spaces and to facilitate effective staff supervision of programming.
While not a LEED design, conscious efforts have been made in the design work to ensure energy savings through upgrades to insulation, use of high efficiency HVAC equipment and lighting, low water use plumbing fixtures, effective natural ventilation, and efficient use of natural light. Recyclable/recycled building materials and interior finishes have been specified as have those that promote a healthy interior air environment.
The new design also meets all new City standards for safety and accessibility
The design also has paid particular attention to preserving the heritage character of the original Firehall building, by preserving as much of the external façade as possible and maintaining some internal features, as well as designing and finishing the new addition in such as way as to complement the existing building. The City’s Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee has reviewed, and strongly approved, the design proposal from a heritage perspective.
Site Plan
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Section 1
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Last updated: Jan. 19, 2010 (MJ)