Going green at Cincinnati Firehouse No. 9

When the City completed construction on the first new firehouse built since 1982, they also made the symbolic step of completing the first LEED-certified public structure in the city of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Firehouse No. 9 opened in early 2008.  The 15,000 plus square-foot building located at 4379 Reading Road is being looked at presently for its innovative green building design.

The firehouse includes such features as:

• Exterior sun shading and interior light shelves;
• White enamel finish on south-facing facade to reduce heat gain;
• Zero irrigation water use for native and adaptive landscaping;
• Use of recycled and regional materials;
• Integrated pest management; and
• Several design features to improve indoor air quality.

This past Thursday, the Green Cincinnati Education Advocacy group organized a free tour of the facility to examine the building's green building techniques and designs and hope to use that information to further their cause of "promoting Green Building in the Tri-State and providing the public with the resources needed to advocate for the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Certification process."

2009 Natural Talent Design Competition
The Cincinnati chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is also hosting the 2009 Natural Talent Design Competition that will consist of teams of students and young professionals who will create concepts for the redevelopment of an existing program that integrates design, sustainability, innovation and social consciousness.

This year's design contest will focus around Over-the-Rhine's Drop Inn Center.  Contest winners will be decided on July 23 at Cincinnati State.  Those interested in sponsoring the design competition can contact the USGBC Cincinnati chapter at [email protected].

Writer: Randy Simes
Source: City of Cincinnati
Photography by Scott Beseler