Chesco training site earns national award

WEST CHESTER Chester County's Public Safety Training Campus has won a national award for architecture, county officials announced Tuesday.

The campus' tactical village was one of five projects across the country to receive top honors for design excellence from the nonprofit Fire Industry Equipment Research Organization. The organization's mission is to improve firefighter health and safety.

A team of six people who are active in fire service and also have architecture degrees chose Chester County's tactical village for the honor.

The team noted the collaboration among the county's public safety agencies, said the architect of Chester County's tactical village, Rob Manns of Manns Woodward Studios in Maryland.

He said county officials challenged his company to come up with a design that met the needs of each type of first responder.

"Our architecture firm specializes in public safety projects and, without a doubt, Chester County has something really special here," he said.

His firm received the award in association with Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects, which is based in North Carolina. - Michaelle Bond