Preliminary ESF design presented to Tisbury town officials
By Janet Hefler
Published: July 23, 2009
The design team from HKT Architects in Somerville provided a preliminary illustration of Tisbury's proposed new emergency services facility (ESF) this week.
The building will be built on Spring Street, across from the Tisbury School, on the site that now houses the town hall annex.
HKT project manager Michael Lawrence and town project manager David C. Lager met Monday at the Katharine Cornell Memorial Theatre with members of the ESF committee to discuss revised elevations and floor plans.
The ESF committee, including representatives from Tisbury's fire and ambulance departments, the Tisbury School, and the community, decided at a meeting a few weeks ago on a split gable design for the building.
Their decision was based on comments and suggestions received in public forums held on May 12 and June 17. The ESF committee also met with fire and ambulance personnel, Tisbury School leaders and parents, and town officials, boards, and committees.
Since the last public hearing, Mr. Lawrence said the HKT design team worked to condense the floor plan as much as possible with an eye towards keeping costs down and maximizing the use of space. "We've been looking at every inch to make sure the fire department and the emergency medical services get what they need, that the town gets the building it wants, and that the community feels it can support it," Mr. Lawrence said.
ESF committee chairman Joe Tierney, who is a lieutenant and training officer in Tisbury's fire department, said the ESF's access stairway and tower offer areas for training exercises.
Tisbury Fire Chief John Schilling said the six apparatus bays in the facility will accommodate all of the town's emergency response equipment, including a new foam trailer that has not been delivered to the town yet.
In response to concerns expressed by the town's energy committee and members of the community about energy savings and sustainability, the R.W. Sullivan Engineering company provided estimates regarding the potential benefits and costs for a closed-loop geothermal well system for the ESF's administration area.
Mr. Lawrence said HKT is in the process of completing documentation to provide information to a professional cost estimator in order to get an idea on where the project stands on pricing. The goal is to put bid contracts out at the end of September, he said, so that the proposed project, complete with a price, can be presented to voters at a special town meeting in November.
Comment about the ESF can be made on the town of Tisbury's website, tisburyma.gov, and at upcoming selectmen's meetings, Mr. Tierney said.
