architecture + design

2025 ASCA CMU Competition

Typology: Civic
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Competition: ASCA 2025 Concrete Masonry Design Competition
Instructor: Hansjörg Göritz
Semester: Spring 2025

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"Embedded to Serve: Anchorage Fire Station" is an emergency response center designed for rural Alaska that combines regional identity with contemporary structural solutions to meet the unique needs of its environment. Located near an airstrip and set against a mountainous landscape, the project addresses the challenges of emergency response, community resilience, and place-making.

A key design strategy is the use of bermed construction, which adds thermal mass and protection to the concrete masonry unit (CMU) structure under extreme environmental conditions. The project’s identity stems from local architectural traditions of using earthwork for the durability, protection, and efficient operation of buildings.

The station is strategically located near the Campbell airstrip - an outdoor recreational park directly adjacent to the city - to provide optimized operational efficiency for ground crews and airborne fire brigades as well as ample space for community gatherings, education, outreach, and events. The location provides the station with direct access to the airstrip, and major roads/trailheads, enabling rapid response to a large population and a diverse range of emergencies - from trail search and rescue and urban medical response to house and forest fires. A tower rises in contrast to the embedded station, acting as a training tool, lookout point, and civic landmark. The design integrates functional resilience and cultural expression to create a beacon for first responders serving the communities they protect.





Collaborators: Melani Jimenez, Kenzie Jantz, Morgan Tencza