When Chicago- and New York–based Studio Gang embarked on the design process for the recently completed FDNY Rescue Company 2 building in Brooklyn, N.Y., the team asked itself: How do you build a better firehouse? Behind its precast concrete walls, this new structure holds not just the trappings of a typical emergency response center, but also a cleverly integrated training ground that makes the elite first responders who work here safer in the field. Inside and out, every space pulls double duty, and every surface was designed for durability, and through wide doors, windows, and even seating integrated into the façade, the building doesn’t just serve the firefighters who work there, it also welcomes the neighborhood in.
Tom Harris
Red “baguettes” from Boston Valley Terra Cotta frame the windows, doors, and voids of Rescue Company 2.
In this podcast episode, founding principal Jeanne Gang, FAIA, discusses how her firm merged form and function with sustainability and transparency to realize a design that not only keeps its firefighters safe, but also serves as a touchstone for local residents.
Episode 51: Studio Gang’s FDNY Rescue Company 2 Rethinks the Modern Firehouse, featuring Jeanne Gang, FAIA, is also available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and GooglePlay.
To read more about Studio Gang’s recently complete FDNY Rescue Company 2 project in Brooklyn, N.Y., read Clay Risen’s profile of the project in the May 2020 issue of ARCHITECT. This podcast was produced by Katie Gerfen and Rob Grauert.
