Fire Rescue 2

Located in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, the new Fire Rescue 2 facility is intended to become a tool for training, enabling FDNY Company 2, an elite force of firefighters and specialized rescue workers serving the people of New York for nearly a century, to stage and simulate a wide range of emergency conditions in, on, and around the building. Company 2 is trained to respond to various emergency scenarios, from fire and building collapses to water rescues and scuba operations. During emergencies, the Company must often utilize voids in buildings, whether creating them to let heat and smoke out of a structure or locating them as a means of escape. To enhance the Company’s training, the new firehouse is organized around a large interior void, a space that extends from the ground to roof level. The void enables the team to practice rescue scenarios that mimic conditions common to the city, using its height and associated elements of balconies, bridge, doorways, ladders, and stairs. At the same time, it introduces natural light and fresh air deep into the living quarters, improving the quality of everyday life within the building. While the design enables the Company to train for emergencies, it also creates a communal environment that supports the well-being of the firefighters and rescuers. The kitchen is designed as a primary social space, opening onto the apparatus floor. The back yard offers a venue for much-needed down time, socializing, and outdoor grilling. Open-air porches adjacent to the exercise room and office deliver fresh air to the facility’s second floor. A green roof, geothermal HVAC system, and solar water-heating system reduce energy use, lowering the building’s carbon footprint. With its adaptable spaces, environmental approach, and civic scale, the new Rescue 2 firehouse is both a neighborhood fixture and important piece of infrastructure, supporting a highly trained corps who safeguard those who call New York home.