Fire, fitness, and fun: Form and function in civic design

By The Construction Specifier
Willmeng Construction and the City of Surprise completed construction on the Rescue Oasis public safety and recreation complex in Surprise, Ariz. Photos courtesy Willmeng; by Small Giant

Willmeng Construction and the City of Surprise completed construction on the Rescue Oasis public safety and recreation complex in Surprise, Ariz.

Rescue Oasis includes four new facilities: Fire Station 309, Soak Station 309 Splash Pad, Rescue Oasis Park, and Oasis Swim center.

Fire Station 309 is a state-of-the-art public safety facility complete with four apparatus bays, a decontamination room, a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) room, a turn-out gear locker room, two EMS rooms, 10 dorms, a fitness room, a full kitchen with pantry, a workshop, a community room, a day room, a workstation area, office space, a conference room, an exam room, laundry facilities, a dining room with patios, a janitor room, restrooms, storage, a public lobby, and mechanical and fire riser rooms.

Oasis Swim center.

The Oasis Swim center is the third public pool in the city. It includes three bodies of water: a recreational pool, a diving/warm-up pool, and a competitive pool.

The recreational pool includes water features and a variety of slides suitable for all ages. The competition pool is an eight-lane, 50-m (164-ft) pool that can also be used as a 23-lane, 23-m (75-ft) pool with shaded stadium seating for spectators, along with parking, restrooms, locker rooms, a concessions area, a training room, and an office.

The diving pool/warm-up pool has two 1-m (3-ft) springboards and six 23-m (25-75) lanes.

Rescue Oasis Park.

Adjacent to the aquatic center, Rescue Oasis Park includes a playground with climbing structures, slides, and spring riders, a basketball court, sand volleyball court, and a fire station-themed splash pad.

The project also includes site development, landscape and civil improvements, site lighting, and utility services.