“Why not have a list of the steps, in order, on building a fire station?” was a question asked at the last Station Design Conference in St. Louis.
Good question. What happens next after you compile your list of needs and wants for a new fire station? Is there an outline or roadmap to give you an idea of the process? When do you contact an architect and how do you select one? If you already have a site selected, will work for the fire station? How important is a needs assessment for the project? And then there’s the topic of funding the project.
For Firehouse Expo 2023 (Sept. 25-29 in Columbus, OH), I reached out to Tim Wiley, emersion DESIGN LLC, Joe Weithman, Mull & Weithman Architects, and Eric Pros, DS Architecture, to help present a basic, overview of the process for a new fire station.
After discussing the topic, we quickly agreed an “A to Z list” for a new fire station is difficult. There are too many variables in the process because each station is unique because of locale, codes, funding and future growth. Rather than easy-to-follow steps, it’s more of a “chutes-and-ladders” process. If you answer “yes”, proceed…if you answer "no”, detour.
Go with the flow (chart)
Our discussions resulted in a basic flow chart of the process for a new fire station and applicable to a station renovation.
No question why you need a new facility is based on needs and wants. Usually, this list is created by department personnel, so do they become your building committee? Who else should or shouldn’t be involved?
At the Station Design Conference in May, attendees varied from a fire chief and assistant chiefs to groups of chiefs, officers, project managers and a local official or city manager. One Southwest department included their fleet supervisor and another, their safety officer and training officer. The variety makes sense because the responsibilities and priorities now include department personnel’s physical and mental health. Designs involve fitness rooms, training and decontamination areas. Actually, there is not an area of today’s fire stations that has not changed within the past nine years and continues to change.
Most fire chiefs will only design one fire station in their career. Should you consider an owner representative to take the lead on your project? Often a city administrator will hire an owner representative to oversee the process and particularly on the project’s delivery method. How do you decide Design Build (DB), General Contracting (GC) or Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)?
At what point do you reach out to find an architectural firm? If your community wants to use the local architect, partnering with an architectural firm specializing in fire stations would power up your project. This partnership will not cost your department more money, as the architects will work it out between themselves. Look at the upcoming November issue of Firehouse for examples of partnerships between local architects and specialized architects to create a station.
Step by step
When the above-mentioned steps are in place, then it’s time to get down to move forward with the design, construction and further steps to reach the final checkout and occupancy.
It all sounds complicated, doesn’t it? It is especially when you learn the unforeseen variables that could slow you down or stop your project. Overwhelming? Yes, but take the time to learn about the process, who and what can help you circumvent problems and save time and money.
During Firehouse Expo, on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 28, I will moderate the roundtable, Timeline for Building a New Fire Station, with Wiley, Weithman, and Pros. The presentation will provide an initial view of the design process and eliminate some of the surprises.
It’s step one toward your new station.
