Chesterfield Fire Station and Parks and Recreation; The Grenfell Tower Fire Through the Lens of Actor Network Theory

My technical and STS projects are related as they both explore the importance of a properly functioning fire service. However, they differ in the way that they are executed. My technical project details the specifics on the process to construct a fire station, as well as a parks and recreation facility. Meanwhile, my STS research rather focuses on deeply studying and analyzing what went wrong with said failed cases in order to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The two projects advocate for the importance of fire services while differing in approach. In my technical project, the final product of the report was a full set of plan sheets that outlines a fire station and parks and recreation facility for a parcel of land in Chesterfield, Virginia. My capstone team works alongside industry professionals to research and develop a design that best caters towards jurisdictional guidelines while providing the most efficient layout. The construction of this project is crucial for the area as there seems to be a lack of fire services in the general vicinity. Additionally, parks and recreation facilities are important for the surrounding community as they provide a space for unity and improve both physical and mental health. Overall, my technical project seeks to provide a tangible solution to address the lack of services, in hopes of connecting the community and ensuring safety. My STS research utilizes the Actor Network Theory to analyze the various factors that contribute to a fire, specifically the Grenfell Tower. This fire was one of complex networks between factors, including social conflict, government negligence, and faulty equipment. My claim was that the fire was not a result of either human error or structural failure, but rather it was a result of networks of human and non-human actors. The goal of this research was to study the disaster in a way that had not been done previously by scholars in order to prevent a similar incident from happening again. Having worked on these two projects simultaneously, I have gained valuable knowledge about the importance of fire stations and the responsibility that engineers have to provide safety to the best of their abilities. My technical project gave me insight into the professional and technological aspects of fire stations, which allowed me to practice the skills that I have learned throughout the past 4 years. My STS research allowed me to explore the social implications associated with a fire while understanding the complexity of factors that led to the disaster. Both projects have increased my desire to provide functional and caring services that can strengthen a community. Working on both projects this past year has given me the opportunity to explore the importance of fire services from both a technical and analytical perspective.