Masonry Magazine February 2012 Page. 28
CASE STUDY
Photography by WLC Architects Inc.
Fremont Tactical Training Facility
"This building is tested to the limits and needed to be constructed with materials able to live up to such high demands. Concrete block masonry is such a material." Bill Louie, Architect, WLC Architects Inc.
In November 2002 Fremont, Calif., voters approved Measure R (Fire Safety Bond) with 74.4 percent of the vote. The Measure authorized the issuance of $51 million in General Obligation Bonds to provide funding to replace three fire stations with new modern stations; build a public safety training center, and make remodeling and seismic improvements to seven existing fire stations.
One of the most recently completed projects is a state-of-the-art tactical training center located on a two-acre site off Stevenson Boulevard, in a commercial area west of Interstate Highway 880. The Fremont Tactical Training Center (FTTC) is designed for hands-on training and includes a 32-person classroom and a five-story training tower.
FACILITY BACKGROUND
The tower structure has five separate and distinct building sections to simulate anticipated emergency responses city-wide. These sections include a one-story, single family dwelling; a two-story concrete building; a six-story tower; interior and exterior stairwells; and a two-story, garden-style apartment. Training components within the tower include a live-bum room; sloped- and flat-roof ventilation props; self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) maze rooms; repelling; a fire sprinkler prop and an artificial smoke prop. Horizontal search-and-rescue props are designed as part of the site improvements. Included is an open-trench prop complete with simulated busted pipes, side wall cave-in feature and damming capabilities to simulate a flooded situation. In addition, a completely underground, confined space prop with varying diameter pipes and turns is included.
Fremont fire Capt. Gerry Fogel says the department wants firefighters to train for blazes at multi-level structures, since many multi-level apartment buildings and condominium complexes exist in Fremont.
THE NEED
As a tactical training center, the building is climbed on, rapelled from, lit on fire, blasted with water, and filled with smoke. It needed to be constructed with materials able to withstand the extreme stressed put upon it. Concrete masonry was determined to be such a material. According to Bill Louie, project architect for Folsom, Calif.-based WLC Architects Inc., this unique project was perfectly suited to feature masonry construction.
"This building is tested to the limits and needed to be constructed with materials able to live up to such high demands," Louie says. "Concrete block masonry is self-contained and fire resistant, which is imperative for a project like this. It is durable, easy to maintain, cost effective and versatile."