b'74 SMF EMERGENCY OPERATIONSSacramento Intl Builds Bigger, Better Fire and Rescue Station BY PAUL NOLANFACTS&FIGURESSomewhere during the evolutionbe staffed around-the-clock. Construction of of Silicon Valley, offices becamethe new facility began in August 2020 and Project: New Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Facility more than spaces where employeeswas completed last June. The former ARFF Location: Sacramento (CA) Intl Airportgathered to work. Tech giants and startupsstation was subsequently repurposed for the Owner: Sacramento County Dept. of Airports alike sunk big bucks into buildings thatairports Department of General Services, Facility Size: 20,865 sq. ft. featured casual, creatively furnished meetingwhich moved from its previous office inside areas and swanky cafeterias that rivaledthe terminal.Stories: 1 Michelin Star restaurants. Cutting-edge Cost: $15.1 million technology, including the latest audio-visualMore Than a WorkplaceFunding: $9.8 million FAA grant; $5.3 million equipment, was de rigueur. Office spaceSMF Fire Chief Kenny Airport Enterprise funds became a recruitment tool and morale- Prete says that the new Construction: Aug. 2020-June 2022 booster for workers who routinely pulledfacility will help optimize Design: LEA Architects LLC all-nighters. the services provided by General Contractor: Broward Builders Inc. When Sacramento International Airportfire and rescue personnel. (SMF) began planning its new aircraft rescueImportantly, the building Civil, Structural & Geotechnical Engineers:is located closer to the C&S Companies and firefighting (ARFF) station, some of the same logic and aspirations were in play. Afterairports center point andKENNY PRETEMechanical/Plumbing Engineers: all, all-nighters are literally written into the jobbetween its two runways, Capital Engineering Consultants Inc. which is optimal for meeting FAA Part 139 Electrical Engineers: The Engineering description for most of the 30+ workers based at the airports emergency response facility. response time requirements. The old station Enterprise Inc. no longer satisfied updated requirements of Key Features: 7 bays (all with drive-throughThe new 20,865-square-foot, single-storythe FAA and SMF firefighters.access); private sleeping quarters; flexible conference/ ARFF facility is about three times larger than training rooms; expansive physical training room thatits predecessor. The station it replaced wasPrete adds that the facilitys positive opens to additional outdoor training space; state-of- more than 50 years old and not designed toimpact on morale cannot be overstated. the-art audio/visual equipment & other technology March | April 2023AirportImprovement.com'