vcsu | Fire Escapes

Vangstad Auditorium’s and McFarland Hall’s three existing steel fire escapes were in excess of 50 years old and were severely rusted, unstable, and unsafe. The University was looking to replace the existing fire escapes with new code-compliant fire escapes. The option of providing standard interior exit stairs was discussed early in the project, but difficulty in effectively placing them, especially in the auditorium and balcony of Vangstad Hall, and sensitivity to the auditorium’s historic interior made that option impractical. The previous fire escapes were narrow, constructed with minimal-sized steel components; railings and steps did not meet code, and some lengths of stairs were long, which made them feel unsafe, especially at upper heights.