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Legacy project: Durable burn building benefits south metro cities

With more than seven times the space of the previous structure, the A.B.L.E. burn building designed by CNH Architects is a firefighter practice facility named for, and serving the communities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville and Eagan, Minn.

The four-level Burnsville building uses an exposed exterior concrete poured superstructure to support the building and “sacrificial” concrete walls, explains CNH Principal Quinn Hutson. This means the concrete walls don’t support the building. As they deteriorate over time and use, they are less expensive to replace than supporting walls.

The design gives firefighters excellent simulated environments for residential, commercial and industrial fires. The structure can withstand 1,200-degree temperatures. It is located off of Cliff Road and Interstate-35W. It opened in 2013. Click for more details.

Watch these televised reports from the Lakeville and Eagan fire departments, which feature interviews with Hutson and fire professionals who were involved in the project. It begins at the 5:20 mark.

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Legacy project: Durable burn building benefits south metro cities

With more than seven times the space of the previous structure, the A.B.L.E. burn building designed by CNH Architects is a firefighter practice facility named for, and serving the communities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville and Eagan, Minn.

The four-level Burnsville building uses an exposed exterior concrete poured superstructure to support the building and “sacrificial” concrete walls, explains CNH Principal Quinn Hutson. This means the concrete walls don’t support the building. As they deteriorate over time and use, they are less expensive to replace than supporting walls.

The design gives firefighters excellent simulated environments for residential, commercial and industrial fires. The structure can withstand 1,200-degree temperatures. It is located off of Cliff Road and Interstate-35W. It opened in 2013. Click for more details.

Watch these televised reports from the Lakeville and Eagan fire departments, which feature interviews with Hutson and fire professionals who were involved in the project. It begins at the 5:20 mark.

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BURNSVILLE FIRE STATION NO. 1

CNH’s largest fire station to date, the City of Burnsville’s Fire Station No. 1 is home to a crew of all full-time firefighters and more than 44,000 SF with 10 apparatus bays. Firefighter safety was one of nine top priorities for the station. Multiple contamination zones and a designated de-contamination area will allow firefighters to keep contaminated equipment and clothing in the apparatus bay until decontaminated. Another priority in the design was firefighter mental health. A warning system that slowly ramps up with alert tones and lighting while only alerting responding staff ensures firefighters are not awoken in an abrupt manner. The station includes areas for relaxation with different lighting to promote natural sleep rhythms, as well as a yoga studio and meditation garden. Extensive firefighter training features including Firefighter 1 and advanced training elements are another highlight of the station.