In Quarters: Bay Point, CA, Fire Station 86

This facility received a Career 2 Notable Award in the 2023 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.

Known as the “Dog House,” Bay Point’s original fire station commenced operations in 1949 and housed a modest three-person crew of firefighters. The new, 11,000-sq.-ft. station, which is situated adjacent to the Highway 4 interchange at Willow Pass Road, is poised to serve the unincorporated Bay Point community as well as the surrounding regions, which represents a substantial upgrade of service compared with the previous rundown station. With LEED Silver Certification in mind, the upgraded station boasts three apparatus bays, dormitory rooms, offices, training areas, storage and lounges. It accommodates two crews and ensures readiness for weather emergencies and sizable equipment, such as fire bulldozers.

The site’s proximity to the highway presented distinctive design challenges, from maintaining numerous access easements, to abandoned, underground portions of the highway, to stormwater lines that needed to be relocated.

Utilizing RRM Design Group’s Design4Life principles, the station’s layout focuses on firefighter health by minimizing exposure to harmful contaminants and carcinogens. Advanced amenities, which include decontamination showers and advanced exhaust extraction systems, prioritize longterm firefighter well-being, with a specific focus on cancer prevention. Fire Station 86 was one of two fire stations that was designed for Contra Costa County.

Through the use of a prototype design, the team was capable of prioritizing the spatial, financial and equipment requirements for the district as a whole and to offer room for customization, including adjustment of the number of bunkrooms and accommodation of a battalion chief whenever necessary. After the initial design, the station was customized for Bay Point’s context, harmonizing with the surrounding community character while adhering to site-specific needs.

Completed three months ahead of schedule, the station’s grand opening drew an immense community presence. The project’s lead designers even remarked that the event was the largest grand opening that they attended in their 20 years in the industry. The celebration culminated with a symbolic moment of attendees collectively pushing a fire truck into the apparatus bay for the first time.

Architect/Firm Name: RRM Design Group