Residents of Provo, Utah, were curious to see a large, white tent in their neighborhood — the new temporary home of Fire Station 2, the city’s oldest fire station. Built in 1958, the old station is plagued with mold, flooding, and structural issues, and does not meet current earthquake standards. The city of Provo approved funds to have the station replaced with a modern facility, but that left the question of where the fire department would be housed during demolition and construction.
A Cost-Saving Solution
When the city of Provo approached Big Top, we began designing a building that would meet the needs of the fire department, while also adhering to local building codes and the city’s budget. The result is a fully functioning temporary facility that’s big enough to house Station 2’s fire apparatus and strong enough to withstand 20 years of changing seasons and weather patterns (though Provo’s finest firefighters will only be “glamping,” otherwise known as “glamorized camping,” in the adjacent trailer for 10 months), for a cost that was much lower than our closest competitor could deliver.
Features of the Design
In addition to cost savings, Big Top stands apart from our competitors because we custom-design every fabric structure that we build for our customers. For instance, there are numerous accessories available to provide unique benefits. For Provo Fire Station 2, we included an HVAC unit to cool and heat the structure, and an exhaust system to safely filter the fumes of the fire apparatus. We also included large coiling doors to allow the apparatus into and out of the building.
Future Use of the Building
Not only did Big Top meet the immediate needs of Fire Station 2, but we also met the future needs of the city of Provo, which will be able to use the structure long into the future. That’s because Big Top’s fabric shelters are mobile — once the new fire station is complete and operational, the fabric structure will be disassembled and relocated to a public works property where it will be restored for other uses.
Benefits Provo’s Firefighters Will Enjoy
The hallmark feature of Big Top’s shelters is the fabric roof, which will provide many benefits for those who work in Fire Station 2. First, the roof is translucent and will therefore flood the interior with natural light, helping the fire department save on energy costs associated with running artificial lighting throughout the day.
Second, the fabric roof is formulated to repel 99.95 percent of harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation, which will help protect the firefighters and their equipment from the damaging effects of sun exposure. Furthermore, the roof will help maintain a pleasant interior temperature that is an average of 15 degrees cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than the outside temperature, even without the help of the HVAC system.
Here at Big Top, it was our absolute honor to support the local Provo community by providing a temporary building for Fire Station 2. If you’d like to learn how we can build a shelter to meet your unique needs, contact us today. Our versatile structures are clear span, can be installed at a rate of 2,500 square feet per day, and may provide tax benefits from the IRS.
