Project Data:

Completion Date:     6/30/2025

Square Footage:      14900

Building Use:           Fire station and Sheriff's Department

Project Description:

Nestled amidst the rugged terrain of the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest, the Rosena Ranch Fire Station redefines the conventional notion of a fire station. It not only provides essential services for firefighting and law enforcement but also showcases a harmonious integration with the formidable landscape of the nearby mountain range and the harsh climatic conditions it endures, setting a new standard for sustainable and community-centric infrastructure.

The station's low-slung roofline, gently sloping downward, serves as a natural buffer against prevailing winds, while deep overhangs provide essential shade and shelter from the intense sunlight. Embracing simplicity and functionality, the exterior seamlessly integrates with the interior, employing a custom-fabricated weathering steel rainscreen cladding for durability and minimal maintenance.

Continuity in design is evident throughout, with prefinished window systems mirroring the weathering steel's hue and ground and polished concrete flooring adding visual warmth. An exposed finish strategy within the interior not only optimizes material usage but also highlights the structure's inherent materiality.

Beyond its architectural prowess, the fire station's design reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship. Strategically located near an important wash feeding into the San Bernardino National Forest, the site features water-slowing features aimed at improving water retention and groundwater recharge, transforming what was once a disused site into a vital ecological buffer.

In essence, the Rosena Ranch Fire Station is more than just a functional facility—it's a testament to the power of design to adapt, integrate and thrive within its environment, offering both sanctuary and service to the community it serves.

Design for Equitable Communities, Design for Ecosystems, Design for Water , Design for Well-being, Design for Resources 

Design for Equitable Communities

At its core, this project is designed to serve residents of the greater San Bernardino County. Its design addresses this commitment by functioning as both a crucial emergency services facility but also as a supportive and comfortable home for the crew. By seamlessly integrating workplace efficiency with a nurturing living environment, the design enables the station crew to concentrate on their vital role in supporting the community.

Design for Ecosystems

The architectural design, form and building expression are inspired by the nearby mountain range, rugged water shed landscape and the harsh climatic conditions that define this region. The site experiences high heat, cold nights, high winds from the northwest and an abundance of intense sunlight.

Drawing inspiration from these conditions, the building responds by introducing a low-slung roofline that slopes downward to buffer against the wind and extends deep overhangs to provide shade and environmental protection throughout the course of the day.

The landscape design transforms the barren landscape by incorporating a variety of native, drought-resistant plants. The strategic arrangement of these plant species benefit the existing ecosystem by stabilizing the soil and reducing erosion.


Design for Water

Positioning the building adjacent to a flood wash emphasizes the importance of water-conscious design. To manage this, the building incorporates rain chains and engineered below-grade drainage systems that efficiently channel water away from the structure and into neighboring retention ponds located to the west and south. By directing water to separate retention basins, the sculpted landscape protects the foundation by promoting groundwater absorption away from the building. This also facilitates the gradual release of rainwater back into the land, thereby reducing the risk of flooding.

Design for Well-being

The well-being of the station crew was at the central to the design-decision making and becomes evident at all levels from the wall assemblies, to programming, to the interior finishes.

The new fire and sheriff's station is strategically located adjacent to Interstate-15, a major thoroughfare linking Southern California with Las Vegas and extending to the Canadian border. While this prime location offers significant advantages for rapid emergency response, it also presents a challenge due to the noise from the busy freeway. To address this, the building features advanced soundproofing and insulation, with wall assemblies designed to surpass industry standards, ensuring minimal disruption from external noise.

As firefighters spend a significant amount of down time in this space, the need for comfortable social spaces is evident. The living room provides space for fire crews to share meals, conversations, and relax after a long shift. The kitchen and dining hall in this central space leads directly to the patio. The seamless kitchen to patio transition breaks the barrier between the inside and the outside, allowing crew to enjoy the cooler nights together by barbecuing and socializing. This central space acts as a gathering space for the fire and sheriff’s station crew allowing for greater unity among teams dispatched to calls improving outcomes for the community in need.

The station's interior design emphasizes simple and sleek finishes, creating a serene and comfortable refuge from the demands of the high-stress work environment.

Design for Resources

The exterior expression of the building utilizes a custom fabricated weathering steel rain screen cladding. The robust steel cladding is well known for its durability and maintenance free characteristics which will provide long term resiliency and low maintenance benefits to the building. After installation, the material will begin to change color, display a patina and evolve into a final static state of finish complimentary to the desert like environment.

Completion Date:     6/30/2025

Square Footage:      14900

Building Use:           Fire station and Sheriff's Department

Location:                 Fontana, CA

CannonDesign

N/A

County of San Bernardino

Armstrong & Brooks, Civil Engineer
Converse Consultants, Geotech Engineer
CarlsonSLS, Environmental Engineer

Ground Level Landscape Architecture

N/A - unbuilt

N/A

N/A