Rolling Meadows High students present plans for new fire station

When students get a shot at real-world experience, it's a bonus. It's a double bonus when their work saves taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Five computer-aided design students and their teacher at Rolling Meadows High School recently drew up preliminary plans for the city's new fire station.

They presented their proposal at the March 18 city council meeting, and this week the city approved putting the plans out for bid.

"They took our ideas and made them come to life," said Fire Chief Ron Stewart.

The Rolling Meadows Fire Department proposed the station for Algonquin Road west of New Wilke Road to increase response times in the area.

Fire officials contacted the school in early February with the request to draw the plans.

"We had a choice whether to accept it, and the students were willing," teacher Joe Salvato said. "We all wanted to do something for the fire department."

So junior Derek Austerlade and seniors Joseph Ingolia, Wayne Kuhn, Michael Snively and David Swoch got to work.

Using a state-of-the-art computer program acquired by the school last year, they created several views of their building design. The program enabled city officials to see three-dimensional and "cut-away" views of the structure. At the council meeting, the students worked the computer to show 360-degree views while firefighters explained them.

Another picture used a Google Earth satellite photo to show how the building "footprint" would fit into the surrounding area.

The group worked on the project during class time for five weeks and attended several meetings with firefighters. Most of them are planning careers in architecture, software design or engineering, Salvato said.

This type of cooperation is new to the high school, Salvato said.

He estimates his students' work would have cost up to $20,000 if done by a professional firm.

"We're just so proud of it, and I'm proud of the guys," Salvato said.

District officials honored the students at a board meeting last week, and fire officials named them "honorary firefighters," handing them matching shirts to wear to the city presentation.

"It's what should happen, a sharing of resources," Stewart said.