On January 22, 2020, the American Council of Engineering Companies – New Mexico (ACEC-NM) announced that Molzen Corbin was awarded the 2020 Environmental Engineering Excellence Award for the Belen Fire Station. Molzen Corbin was proud to serve the City of Belen as the lead architectural and engineering firm on this project, ensuring the shared goal to have a state-of-the-art fire station nestled in the heart of downtown.

While the downtown site was ideal for the City, it presented several unique challenges to the Molzen Corbin design team. The two initial issues the team encountered were that the site was small with limited access and that it was located within a flood plain. However, the most critical challenge faced by the team was that contaminated soil was discovered during the soil investigation phase of the project.

Molzen Corbin answered these challenges with innovative, cost-effective solutions. The team designed a 13,000 square-foot facility that used every square inch and public access available on the site to provide a functional facility with easy maneuverability. Our design elevated the finish floor above the flood line to protect the facility, allowing it to remain operational, even if the surrounding low-lying area floods. Finally, we worked contaminated soil remediation into the budget and schedule, and integrated an innovative below slab ventilation system to eliminate the possibility of contaminated fumes infiltrating the facility.

Mr. John Pate, Vice President of Architecture, summarized the project: “I am proud that we brought efficiency and economy to the project by capitalizing on one deficiency to mitigate another. We minimized earthwork by elevating the building above the floodplain, reducing the amount of contaminated soil to be removed and disposed of. Even with the challenges presented, we were able to design a facility that met the needs of the community and delivered the project on time and within budget.”

Since the ribbon cutting Grand Opening Ceremony in October of 2018, the fire station has been occupied continuously (24/7). Its layout ensures that internal response time (time for firefighters to reach apparatus and be prepared to depart) is minimized and functionality is maximized within a comfortable and healthy environment. Equipped with state-of-the art, high-speed folding doors, the five 60-foot deep apparatus bays house firefighting and emergency-response vehicles. The station also includes administrative and training areas, support areas (where vehicles and firefighting equipment can be cleaned and stored), and residential areas (including dorms, dayroom/kitchen, fitness room, outdoor activity area, and bathrooms).