New York City
BKSK Architects

Photography © Michael Moran Photography

An educational mission is expressed with stylish finesse

Architect BKSK Architects www.bksarch.com Client FDNY Fire Safety Education Fund Key players Mediaworks (mixed media and narrative); S. DiGiacomo and Son (general contractor); Lilker Associates (engineering); Weidlinger Associates (engineering)

A campaign to increase fire-safety awareness led to the conversion of a New York City coffee shop into a dynamic fire-safety educational facility. The space, intended for local and traveling visitors, needed to accommodate individuals and groups, provide support areas, room for future teaching technologies, and a gift shop from which important revenue for this nonprofit organization could be generated. The project relies heavily on multimedia—both a fire-truck cab and a video called The Power of Fire mark its storefront. Inside, an interactive theater environment creates a visceral learning experience about the lives of firefighters and the devastating effects of fire. Since its opening, more than 250,000 people have visited the facility. Though not originally planned in the design, one wall of the building, now covered with the badges of firefighters who perished on 9/11, has become an impromptu memorial.

For more images please see the November 2004 issue or Architectural Record.
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