"In the 1980s the goal of integrating women in the firefighting force was notoriously difficult to achieve because of the gender-specific -- for men only -- spatial organization of fire stations, with their open dormitories and locker rooms. Men could bond by physical proximity but women could not be retained for very long in spaces that fostered a culture of masculinity. Fire Station Five was the first specifically designed to integrate and retain women. Typological innovations included private bedrooms with folding beds, individual lockers, a desk, and bonding spaces that allowed being able to rely on a co-worker’ physical and mental abilities and to foster the camaraderie developed over time when people spend a lot of time together. These were: an exercise room in full view of firefighters working in the apparatus room; a fire pole placed at the center of the stair tower, as its proficient use requires excellent physical coordination; and a kitchen designed to accommodate more than one cook with see-through cabinets for everyone to put things away. These established the precedent for today’s gender-neutral fire stations as they were recommended by the U.S. Fire Administration 10 years after the completion of the building."