This two-level 21,214-square-foot fire station in a rapidly growing community reduces response time, establishes a strong and transparent civic presence, and uses biophilic design principles to support fire fighters physical and mental wellness.

Biophilia, it’s bringing nature into the building. By bringing nature in it helps calm our firefighters throughout the day. When they come back from a bad call, there’s areas of the building that bring in nature, like our green roof.

— Deb Krebill, retired fire chief, Marion Fire Department

Challenged by the fire chief to design a station that would be a national benchmark for how biophilic design can reduce PTSD in fire fighters and inspired by the 14 Patterns of Biophilia, the following design principles were employed to support fire fighters physical and mental health.

• Visual Connection with Nature: Full-height glass in the apparatus bay and in the living spaces and two exterior decks, provide a strong visual connection to the community and natural surroundings.
• Non Visual Connection with Nature: Manicured grass, prairie, and a tree grove as well as a retention pond, invite wildlife to the site.
• Thermal and Airflow: A geothermal system is both efficient and creates a comfortable interior environment. All living spaces and offices have operable windows.
• Presence of Water: A retention pond is multi-functional as a storm water solution as well as a site for water and ice rescue.
• Dynamic & Diffuse Light: A trellis around a large outdoor patio creates dynamic shadow patterns throughout the day against the ipe wood deck and shou sugi ban exterior.
• Connection with Natural Systems: Exterior gathering spaces and glass provide a direct connection to the circadian rhythms of the day as well as the seasonal changes. These connections help with sleep wake cycles which are critical for fire fighters well-being.
• Biomorphic Forms & Patterns: Carpet in the multi-purpose training room mimics moss and stones. Tiles in a hexagonal shape commonly found in nature, spherical lights, and glass etched with branch patterns all bring biomorphic forms and patterns to the space.
• Material Connection with Nature: The exterior skin is shou sugi ban wood accented with cedar and ipe wood decks and exposed structural wood decking inside.
• Complexity & Order: The building was designed on a strict module which contrasts with the complexity inherent in the exposed wood elements and the biomorphic forms and patterns of the finishes and lighting.
• Prospect & Refuge: Exterior decks provide much needed respite from the stressors of a first responder’s job. The smaller private deck and larger deck create both prospect and refuge. While it is important for fire fighters to have this amenity, they also do not want to be on display to the public, so these decks are enclosed by a trellis that provides both vertical and horizontal shading and privacy.
• Risk/Peril: A glass railing and a sedum green roof eliminates the perception of a vertical edge on the exterior decks, thus creating a stronger connection between the patio and the green roof. Additionally the training stair and platform puts firefighters in simulated risk situations to prepare them for their real work of saving lives.

The implementation of these biophilic principles is having a profound effect on the fire fighters wellbeing, including stress reduction and increased awareness and cognitive ability. The addition of the features such as escalating alarms and circadian rhythm-based lighting further promote mental and physical wellbeing.

“If everybody could work in a place like this, they would be so happy. By being in a building that they feel calm and comfortable it helps with relationships as well as their every day stresses.”

— Deb Krebill, retired fire chief, Marion Fire Department