New EMS Station Opens in Greenpoint

NEW YORK—Great lengths were taken designing the new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) station in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to fit in with the neighborhood’s ever-changing streetscape.
New EMS Station Opens in Greenpoint
People gather for the opening of the new Emergency Medical Services Station 35 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City, Sept. 30, 2013. (Sarah Matheson/Epoch Times)
Sarah Matheson
9/30/2013
Updated:
9/30/2013

NEW YORK—Great lengths were taken designing the new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) station in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to fit in with the neighborhood’s ever-changing streetscape.

The building had to be designed in a way to maximize the efficiency of the staff and it also had to fit in the neighborhood where most of the bulidings do not exceed two stories.

About 65 staff members work from New York City Fire Department (FDNY) EMS Station 35, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and officers. They provide the communities of Williamsburg and Greenpoint with emergency pre-hospital care, with two Advanced Life Support Units and five Basic Life Support Units.

Until Sept. 23, station 35 was based at Woodhull Medical Center on Flushing Avenue. EMS Station 35 Capt. Edward Bobb said his team had been looking forward to the move for a long time. Construction started in September 2010, and finished just a few weeks ago on Sept. 16.

City fire department officials, including Commissioner Salvatore Cassano, Chief of Department Edward Kilduff, and Chief of EMS Command Abdo Nahmod participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to mark the opening.

“Today we are seeing the results of our hard work. … It’s a proud day not only for the neighborhood, but also for the department,” Cassano said.

The building is 12,931 square feet, and cost $9.3 million to construct, according to the New York City Department of Design and Construction. The FDNY funded the construction and gave a higher cost at $12.5 million, which also included design costs and the commission to sign off on the project.

It has a partial basement with an above ground fuel tank and space for an emergency generator. The first floor is the apparatus floor—where they park ambulances. It includes offices for the captain and two lieutenants, and storage areas. The second floor has an open-plan kitchen and lounge, male and female locker rooms, a training room, and an exercise room. There is also an outdoor patio.

An insulated glass curtain wall on the street facade lets daylight into the station, but preserves staff members’ privacy. The skylight atrium, above the stairwell in the middle of the building, also allows a comfortable amount of sunlight into the station.

David Resnick, deputy commissioner of public buildings for New York City Department of Design and Construction, said the station was meant to be an iconic building, and “a symbol of what EMS provides to the community … readiness and availability to provide service.”

Since 2002, FDNY has opened 10 new EMS locations across the five boroughs.

Sarah Matheson covers the business of luxury for Epoch Times. Sarah has worked for media organizations in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, and graduated with merit from the Aoraki Polytechnic School of Journalism in 2005. Sarah is almost fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Originally from New Zealand, she now lives next to the Highline in Manhattan's most up-and-coming neighborhood, West Chelsea.
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