What's better a Brick/Block Fire Station or the Cheaper Metal Building?

We presently have one of each. The Brick/Block Unit is over 50 years old and stands like a rock. The other Station is as big, but is a Metal Building. We call it the Money Pit. Repairs for leaks, heating costs and rusting issues. That station is under 20 years old and will continue to need love and care. I know costs is the number one reason the Town built it, but into the long haul is it better? What's you thoughts?

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You could try something like this monolithic.com
Make that www.monolithic.com go to search in the website for firestaion ans then look for indestructible fire station.
a good steel building will last as long as a brick building
Got to go with Loyd on this one. Craftsmanship is the key. My first station was metal and after 15 years was a money pit. But my current 10 year old brick station leaks severly due to lack of sealing etc. We just sent off a mold sample to be analysed.

Station 1 is metal and is over 20 years old with no problems. It all comes down to how well it was built not whether it's metal or brick in most cases.
A good construction company will make any building good. I have seen problems in a metal and brick fire station we have back years ago when we moved into it. The building leaked in the corners. The office was messed up by leaks for a while. Flat roofs are good for certain things but I would rather have a peaked roof on a building if its done right. The building was also built below grade and sewage had to be pumped up to the system.
I know when the contractor was hired for the building they were low bid because the county build it along with two other identical stations at the same time
Poor tender selection followed by poor building control - that will do it every time. (Did anyone in local government 'get rich' after that selection?) Construction material choice doesn't really come into it.

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