Restoration of the old Cardiff firehouse

The Encinitas Fire Department outgrew the one bedroom, one bath 2,447 SF station abandoning the building in 2012. Other than illegal transient occupation, the old firehouse sat empty and dilapidated for four years. With pressure from the surrounding community, the city of Encinitas leased the public-semi public property with the requirement of a $40,000 tenant improvement budget. After acquiring the lease, Air Care Transports, a 24-hour air and ground ambulance company, hired me to design a livable working space, complete with all the comforts of home while paying homage to the building's history. Air Care transports now utilizes the old firehouse as their headquarters to dispatch and house the medical crew 24/7.