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Arcat Detailed Podcast Episode
108: Modular Construction | Fire Station 67
49m 43s |
In this episode, Cherise is joined by Matt Wittman, Founder of Wittman Estes in Seattle Washington. They discuss Fire Station 67 in Rancho Mission Viejo, Orange County, California.
Fire Station 67 stands as a model of modern adaptability and resilience, designed to meet its community's immediate and future needs. Built on a modular system, the station is composed of durable steel modules that can be easily transported and reconfigured. This flexibility extends the building’s lifespan and allows for its evolution as future needs arise.
Fire Station 67 stands as a model of modern adaptability and resilience, designed to meet its community's immediate and future needs. Built on a modular system, the station is composed of durable steel modules that can be easily transported and reconfigured. This flexibility extends the building’s lifespan and allows for its evolution as future needs arise.
Photo Credit: Nic Lehoux
Matt is a recognized architecture thought leader -- his work has been published widely and won international design recognition including the AIA National Housing award for Tsuga Townhomes, the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies for Othello Gardens, and the 2023 Modular Building Institute Award for Fire Station 67.
Matt received his Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley and is a visiting critic at the University of Oregon and University of Washington Departments of Architecture. He believes that architecture and nature can be combined into one interconnected whole.
Fire Station 67 is built on a modular system that allows for future reconfiguration and relocation. The sturdy and durable steel modules are easily transportable, and re-arranged for future uses, extending the lifespan of the buildings, and accommodating flexibility to meet what the future may bring.
The rigid grids of structural steel frames, include ‘pick points’ and ‘fork pockets’ for infinite rearrangement.
Wittman Estes created an architectural kit of parts – each one sized and optimized for rapidly deployable transport and fast assembly.
By designing for offsite fabrication and rapid assembly, Wittman Estes streamlined the design, documentation, and permitting process so construction could begin less than a year after the design process began.
This allowed for parallel site development work in California and the factory construction in Nevada, resulting in a six-month total construction timeline.
Matt is best known for innovative housing — single-family to multi-family — that provides a rich experience and is in tune with the natural environment.
Matt is a recognized architecture thought leader -- his work has been published widely and won international design recognition including the AIA National Housing award for Tsuga Townhomes, the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies for Othello Gardens, and the 2023 Modular Building Institute Award for Fire Station 67.
Matt received his Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley and is a visiting critic at the University of Oregon and University of Washington Departments of Architecture. He believes that architecture and nature can be combined into one interconnected whole.
Project Name and Location: Fire Station 67, Rancho Mission Veijo, California
Fire Station 67 is built on a modular system that allows for future reconfiguration and relocation. The sturdy and durable steel modules are easily transportable, and re-arranged for future uses, extending the lifespan of the buildings, and accommodating flexibility to meet what the future may bring.
The rigid grids of structural steel frames, include ‘pick points’ and ‘fork pockets’ for infinite rearrangement.
Wittman Estes created an architectural kit of parts – each one sized and optimized for rapidly deployable transport and fast assembly.
By designing for offsite fabrication and rapid assembly, Wittman Estes streamlined the design, documentation, and permitting process so construction could begin less than a year after the design process began.
This allowed for parallel site development work in California and the factory construction in Nevada, resulting in a six-month total construction timeline.
Project Team List:
- Architect: Wittman Estes
- Clients: 2G3R (Ana Maria Pinto da Silva), Orange County Fire Authority, Rancho Mission Viejo
- Prefabricated System: Wittman Estes in collaboration with 2G3R
- Interior design: Birsel+Seck
- Landscape architect: Land Concern
- Civil engineer: Fuscoe Engineering
- Builder: Xtreme Cubes
Unique Products:
- 4K Aluminum Modular Trellis Universal Awning and Canopy
- Metal Siding- PAC-CLAD by Petersen Aluminum
- Flat metal panel, painted high gloss red – Sherwin Williams 6868 | Real Red
- Clear anodized storefront aluminum windows by Kawneer
- Open web structural steel flat trusses
- Steel Moment Frame Cubes by Xtreme Cubes
