Local architecture firm receives award for work on Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Station 45
Courtesy of Dallas and Harris Photography
A proud dozen or so firefighters, architects and other onlookers were on hand Friday morning as Charles Cunniffe Architects were presented the American Institute of Architecture Colorado Design Award for their work on Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Station 45.
The annual AIA Colorado Design Awards honor the most outstanding work of AIA Colorado members and their firms, re-inforce the value of great architecture and highlight members’ positive contributions to the community.
Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Station 45 in Snowmass Village was completed Oct. 1, 2018. The design team included Principal Charles Cunniffe, Job Captain Grant Bankston and Senior Project Architects Scott Smith and Ryan Hoffner.
“The jury really liked this project — not only because it is a state of the art fire station, but especially for what it did with housing. Housing is such a huge issue out here on the Western Slope and anytime you can incorporate it into public projects it’s even better,” AIA Colorado CEO Mike Waldinger said while presenting the award at the station Friday morning.
Station 45 hosts six resident studios with exterior entrances. In addition, the station has seven private bunk rooms, gym and large training spaces and storage for bikes and skis.
“Above anything else, this was one of the only projects we saw that tried to accomplish that, and so the jury felt it was extra deserving of recognition on that basis alone,” Waldinger said.
Courtesy of Dallas and Harris Photography
“It was a joy for us to work with the public for a public facility where the people that we work with are ‘salt of the earth kind of people,'” Principal Charles Cunniffe said. “It was a good experience for us. and we thank you for letting us help you with it.”
Roaring Fork Fire Rescue worked with Charles Cunniffe Architects for three years on this project.
“I have had, I don’t know how many people in the public say, ‘This station fits the village. It fits in,'” said Fire Chief Scott Thompson. “This is a 30,000-square-foot building, and it doesn’t look like it. We’re happy to be here.”
During the design of Station 45, Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Board Vice President Scott Arthur was a captain and working in the old station.
“What was really helpful, from a firefighter’s standpoint, is that a lot of suggestions and ideas we had come up with early on were taken into account in the final design. We were really pleased with that. It is a very very functional fire station.
Charles Cunniffe Architects has won several awards over the years, but Cunniffe said this one is more rewarding because it is a public facility.
“We don’t see many civic projects get submitted, especially ones that are deemed more utilitarian. This is not meant to be a showpiece. It’s meant to work and function, but you managed to pull a lot off with it,” Waldinger said.
To reach Audrey Ryan, email her at aryan@swiftcom.com.
