Matlacha Fire Station #4 Named a Finalist in AIA Florida 2023 People’s Choice Competition
May 25, 2023 | Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cape Coral, FL., May 25, 2023 – Matlacha Fire Station #4 in Matlacha was selected by AIA Florida architects as a distinguished example of public safety architecture in our state. It is now a candidate in the 2023 People’s Choice competition, which this year is a tribute to the architecture that is keeping Florida safe.
“Through design, architects have the ability to create spaces to enhance the human experience while protecting the health, safety and welfare of our communities—tools essential to supporting first responders as they face the daily call to serve,” said Frank. “As a vital part of the planning process, architects collaborate with key members to identify challenges, develop solutions and ensure our communities have tangible resources crucial to sustaining a thriving community.”
The competition features 28 buildings from across the state that are dedicated to public safety.
The buildings are:
AIA Florida Gulf Coast
City of North Port Public Safety Building
Longboat Key Fire Station #92
Sarasota County Siesta Key Fire Station #13
Sarasota County Fire Station #1
AIA Florida Northwest
Perdido Key Fire Station #19
Watercolor Fire Station
Midway Fire Station 35
City of Pensacola Fire Station #1
AIA Florida Southwest
Estero Fire Rescue Station 45 and Training Facility
Matlacha Fire Station #4
Fort Myers Fire Station No. 1 and Administration
Naples Fire Station No. 1 and Administration
AIA Fort Lauderdale
Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue Station and EOC
Sunrise Public Safety Complex
Lighthouse Point Fire Rescue Headquarters and EOC
AIA Gainesville
Gainesville Fire Rescue #1
AIA Jacksonville
City of Jacksonville Etown Fire State 74
AIA Miami
City of Coral Gables Public Safety Building
City of Coral Gables Fire Station 2 Renovation/Addition & Trolley Maintenance Facility
AIA Orlando
Windermere Police Department and Town Facilities
AIA Palm Beach
Town of Jupiter Police Headquarters
Boca Raton Fire Rescue Station No. 6
Seacoast Utility Authority Campus Headquarters
Palm Beach State College Public Safety Training Center
AIA Tallahassee
Leon County/City of Tallahassee Consolidated Public Safety Campus
AIA Tampa Bay
Dunedin Fire Station 61
St. Petersburg Police Headquarters
AIA Treasure Coast
Douglas M. Anderson Emergency Operations Center
Designed to engage the public in discussions about architecture, the People’s Choice competition is held annually by AIA Florida and the Florida Foundation for Architecture. The competition has generated more than 12 million votes since its inception in 2012.
Vote online at floridapeopleschoice.org until 11:59 p.m. Eastern on July 28.
This Station was designed in the vernacular island style of the Matlacha-Pine Island Architecture in mind and follows the historic fishing village design esthetic which it serves. Fire Station #4 for the Matlacha Pine Island Fire District it is a 5700 SF Fire Station for up to 4 fire fighters and administrative staff.
It includes all functional spaces required of a full time operational fire station. Fire Station #4 houses up to 4 full time staff and personnel which also includes administrative space as well as a large public community room. Spaces are organized around a central corridor with direct lines into the apparatus bays and the day room. PPE is enclosed in a separate room across the private personnel spaces away from the public areas. The Station was designed parallel to Pine Island Road for easy access into and thru the facility, so no backing out is required. The Community room has a separate entrance and exit for evening and weekend events so that the station personnel are not affected by the public meetings going on inside. The Station will serve as an emergency operation center and shelter during Hurricane and Storm events for the community.
There will be public artwork on display inside and outside of the building and each framed space below the windows on the exterior elevations is designed for a “future” local artist to display their artwork as a community volunteer panel exhibit. Each window will have a unique “art installation” which will be done by a local artist in the community. Colors for the Station were derived from the local “Vernacular” style and images of the nearby fishing village that this station protects.
The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Florida, headquartered in Tallahassee, represents the interests of more than 3,900 members in Florida. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public and colleagues of an AIA member architect’s dedication to the highest standards in professional practice.
About Castellanos + Tramonte Architects
Castellanos + Tramonte Architects is a full service multi-discipline architectural firm in Southwest Florida. The firm specializes in commercial architecture, which includes fire stations, healthcare buildings, public facilities, office buildings, shopping centers, industrial/warehouse buildings and, most recently, private educational and assembly buildings.