High Tech Dutch Fire Station Relies On Innovative Solar Collecting Rooftop Parking Lot

Posted By Bridgette Meinhold On May 29, 2011 @ 12:14 am In Architecture,carousel showcase,gallery,Sustainable Building | No Comments

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When the municipality of Alkmaar in The Netherlands ^[6] needed a new fire station ^[7], they had a lot of specific criteria that needed to be met. First the facility had to achieve a high level of energy efficiency and sustainability. They also needed the NBHW fire station to have facilities for a care center for addicts and meet many strict town planning conditions. As a result the facility, designed by LIAG ^[8], conforms to the site along the North Holland Canal with a rooftop parking deck ^[9] to place cars out of sight. The parking deck is also used to collect solar energy for the underground thermal energy storage system to minimize electricity use.

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The slender building volume runs north and south away from the city council buildings up to a height of 20 meters, acting as an entrance to the city centre. A ramp on the canal side of the building provides access to the innovative parking lot, which collects solar energy. Painted green to avoid overheating, the parking lot is like a giant radiant floor, but works to collect solar energy ^[6] rather than release it. This heat is transferred down to the underground thermal energy storage (UTES) to provide 80% of its heating and cooling for the facility and the adjoining city council offices. In March 2011, the building received an honorable mention from the European Architecture Award 2011 Architecture + Energy, which recognizes buildings with innovative energy concepts.

Overall, the station achieved a higher energy rating than the city required for new construction and also made a concerted effort to include materials ^[10] that had a lower impact in manufacturing, recycling, and reuse. The materials had to fit within the vision of ‘Cradle-to-Cradle’ ^[11] building. The facility also makes use of rainwater recycling, extra high insulation, compact building and multi-use spaces. An art installation by the name of Northern Lights, by Paul Baartmans, makes use of the reflective and metallic surface of the building to project colorful LED lights ^[12] resulting in a playful and mysterious effect.

+ LIAG ^[8]

Images ©Bernard Faber, Wilm Daneels, Paul Baartmans and LIAG

Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com

URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/high-tech-dutch-fire-station-relies-on-innovative-solar-collecting-rooftop-parking-lot/

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[5]  : http://inhabitat.com/high-tech-dutch-fire-station-relies-on-innovative-solar-collecting-rooftop-parking-lot/liag-architecten-nbhw-fire-station-5/?extend=1

[6] The Netherlands: http://inhabitat.com/the-netherlands-to-pave-roads-with-solaroad-solar-panels/

[7] fire station: http://inhabitat.com/oakland-fire-station-honored-with-leed-gold-certification/

[8] LIAG: http://www.liag.nl/engels/projecten/utiliteit/brandweeralkmaar.html

[9] rooftop parking deck: http://inhabitat.com/intexure-architects-transform-parking-garage-into-a-rooftop-zen-garden/

[10] materials: http://inhabitat.com/category/green-materials

[11] ‘Cradle-to-Cradle’: http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-interview-green-architect-cradle-to-cradle-founder-william-mcdonough/

[12] LED lights: http://inhabitat.com/tag/LED

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