Aurora, Colorado – April 30, 2009 – Merrick & Company (www.merrick.com), an $85 million engineering, architecture, design-build, surveying, and geospatial solutions firm, announced that a recently completed project of the firm’s, the Fire Crash Rescue Station 1 located at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, received a Citation Award from the Air Combat Command, Langley, Virginia. The project was recognized for its excellent overall design that incorporates innovation, anti-terrorism and force-protection, and sustainable design concepts.
Merrick provided comprehensive planning, architecture, and engineering to the Albuquerque District Corps of Engineers who was responsible for the architect engineer services to their client, the 49th Civil Engineering Squadron of Holloman AFB for this project that replaced an existing, aging facility. The new facility will improve emergency response times to the flight line and to structure fires on base, living and working conditions, and vehicle storage as well as increase personnel effectiveness. The new facility features a fully equipped dining area, recreational and physical fitness areas, comfortable sleeping quarters, administrative areas, and the latest electronic equipment in the training and work areas.
Sustainable design practices were incorporated into the facility, including passive design techniques and active environmental systems. Natural daylighting and clerestory windows were used throughout, with the glazing systems consisting of insulating units with tinted low-e glass. The mechanical systems were designed to reduce energy and water consumption, including low-flow plumbing fixtures and seven-day programmable thermostats. The air conditioning system utilizes short chilled water piping runs, CFC-free refrigerant, and air-cooled condensing units. Furnaces carry a 92 percent efficiency rating. Recycled and recovered materials were incorporated where feasible to the maximum extent possible.
The exterior architectural design of curvilinear forms is reflective of the surrounding environment of mountains and water with the same theme carried into the interior with natural materials and curved lines. The building also incorporates the U.S. Department of Defense’s anti-terrorism/force protection design parameters.
About Merrick & Company
Merrick & Company serves domestic and international clients in the government, energy, life sciences, infrastructure, and mapping markets. With a focus on military and government facilities, the firm’s most recent work includes extensive training ranges to equip soldiers for urban combat scenarios faced by today’s military, beddown facilities at Creech Air Force Base for the Air Forces’ Predator surveillance and attack unmanned aerial vehicles and various quality of life amenities (physical fitness, child development centers, head quarters and dormitories) for military bases throughout the United States and abroad.
