San Jose Mineta International Airport Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Facility

The San Jose Mineta International Airport Aircraft Rescue & Fire (AARF) Fighting Facility project was delivered one month early — despite additional scope added to the project — within budget and with a perfect safety record. It is the first facility on the West Coast to serve two separate firefighting crews within one building: the City of San Jose Fire Department (SJFD) and San Jose Airport (SJC) rescue personnel.

This Progressive Design-Build project was innovative in its dual approach of solving for local safety and airport safety within one building. The front of the building functions for the community much like a neighborhood fire station while the rear is compliant with strict airport security protocols with five apparatus bays serving the airfield. The hybrid nature of the building supports improved response times for the community and the airport. The design team designated separate areas for each crew and color coordinated the dorms and service areas for SJFD and SJC. The resulting co-living arrangement saves public resources and fosters synergy and efficiency for improved lifesaving support.

Keeping Sustainability and Efficiency at the Forefront

The AARF Facility is USGBC certified LEED Silver, Net Zero ready and meets the City of San Jose Sustainability Memorandum and California Green Building Requirements. Skylights and clerestory windows provide natural daylight, and all windows are dual-paned with low-emissivity glass. LED lighting is used throughout the station, and site lighting is both photovoltaic and motion-sensored (to reduce lighting when not in use). The AARF Facility is also set up to allow for more connections to additional photovoltaics in the future and is all-electric, except for a required diesel emergency generator.

Mechanical features include a variable refrigerant flow system with a heat pump that allows for energy recovery between building zones. Each zone has a thermostat that enables precise, specific system adjustments. High-efficiency air circulation systems enhance air quality filtration. There are also electric heat pump hot water heaters, which are generally more efficient and sustainable than traditional gas water heaters. Low-flow plumbing fixtures are expected to help reduce water use by 38% from the building code baseline.

Design-Build Team

Photos