Firefighters in Rhode Island now have a place to train. Rhode Island officially opened last month the state’s only fire academy. Designed by the Robinson Green Beretta Corp. of Providence and RDG Planning & Design of Illinois, the facility rises from what was once the Ladd School in Exeter.
RGB principal and architect recently took some time to discuss the project.
PBN: First, can you tell us about the project? I understand there are multiple phases.
DeQUATTRO: Due to budget constraints, the project was broken into two phases. The first phase was the construction of a fire fighting simulation and equipment storage building. Phase II will include a training facility, housing multifunction classrooms.
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PBN: Can you speak more about the burn building and its unique aspects?
DeQUATTRO: The burn building will be used to simulate multiple firefighting scenarios. There is a fire story tower with an elevator shaft and both interior and exterior stairs, floor/ceiling breech prop, roof breech prop, simulated attic space, repelling anchors, overhead wire/pole prop, balcony and two burn rooms, which include interchangeable fire props and smoke simulators
PBN: Some of the training happens outside as well. How did you design areas for training to fight auto fires and other outdoor threats?
DeQUATTRO: Four exterior training pads were provided. Two of which are equipped with exterior fire props: one is an automobile fire, the other a propane tank fire. One pad was designed for a future exterior prop with a future control station including all underground utilities.
PBN: Is this the first fire academy RGB has ever designed?
DeQUATTRO: Yes, this specialty building was designed by RGB and RDG Planning & Design, Arlington Heights, Ill. With their specialized talent and RGB’s design and construction document skills, the project has been very successful, running a surplus of funds to date.
PBN: So did you find yourself becoming an expert in firefighting during the process?
DeQUATTRO: RGB’s primary designer of the Rhode Island Fire Academy was a trained firefighter. RGB visited several firefighter training facilities prior to the design of the Rhode Island Fire Academy. RGB also did extensive research of firefighting apparatus and firefighting simulators. RGB has designed the only fire training facility in Rhode Island and has obtained an extensive knowledge of fire training facilities in the process and we are familiar through recent design of fire stations, as well.
