The new Fireboat Station No. 35 at Pier 22 ½ in San Francisco is a two-story, 32,000 - sq. ft. fire department station extending from the existing fireboat house into the bay. The project’s critical goal was to ensure sustainability and resilience. The building is a barge that floats on the water, supporting marine fire station duties. It will rise and fall with the tides and climate-related sea-level changes, offering easy boat access to first responders.
A dock, wet gear, and a scuba room are on the first floor, along with parking spaces for fire engines. The second floor is the living space, with dorms and locker rooms, three separate smaller rooms for officers, a library, kitchen, pantry, a day room, and an observation deck facing the water. Coordinating the overhead and elevations with the drive areas was one of our top challenges due to the heavy-duty doors and fire engines requiring so much space. Thanks to our expertise in BIM & VDC, we could address all the challenges effectively.
VEC experts worked on the San Francisco Fire Department Station No. 35 in 2020. The scope of our involvement in this project included lighting, power, fire alarm (FA), telecom, security, audiovisual modeling, and fuel/oil/electric for one of the contractors, McMillan Electric. Our team provided Trimble and shop drawings for the underground barge, first floor, second floor, and roof levels. Meanwhile, the shop drawings we supplied covered overhead supports, conduit routing, reflected ceiling plans, and equipment layouts.
Using Revit, VEC specialists created all the necessary 3D models to ensure better construction coordination between the involved stakeholders, including the general contractor, Swinerton.
Our electrical BIM & VDC services cover power, lighting, and telecom system modeling. Also, the VEC team created a thorough BIM Execution Plan and shared it with all stakeholders to provide them with the correct understanding and management of relevant BIM deliverables.
Meanwhile, 3D systems’ models are vital to ensure their proper performance after construction due to the opportunity to detect and eliminate clashes quickly. That also strengthens project coordination as all parties get these 3D models and realize how the systems will be constructed on-site. After all, creating a unique environment that will offer student-centered learning is only possible with valuable BIM data and efficient cooperation between all contractors.
VEC’s specialists deliver exceptional civil underground services for this educational project. They encompass various tasks such as 3D modeling, project management, BIM coordination, civil underground wet & dry (VDC), and onsite technology work. We have effectively utilized BIM software solutions such as Revitzo, Revit, and Navisworks throughout the project.
Our experts promptly document all design-related issues using PDF Markups and propose relevant solutions, including fittings and pipe length adjustments. Besides, we have created installation drawings to ensure accurate implementation in alignment with the plans. Lastly, our team performed essential tasks such as 3D laser-scanning, reporting on deviations from the current conditions, developing as-built models and drawings, identifying clashes, etc.
"It's amazing how fast and how much the bluff has receded over the last year. To capture and analyze this data opens my eyes to what this technology can be used for."
"It was a pleasure working alongside AECOM to analyze the corrosion of the bluff using Laser scanning Technology and Drone Photogrammetry. The data we captured is essential as it will provide insight into the stability and safety of the bluff."