In Quarters: Newport, MN, City Hall and Public Safety Building

This facility received a Shared Facilities Notable award in the 2023 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.

The Newport Fire Department (NFD) required a facility, in combination with the city hall and police department, that would be capable of combining its two existing fire halls into one building as well as allow for future growth. In addition to apparatus bays, gear grid and SCBA, the NFD required space for indoor training opportunities, a dayroom that has a kitchenette, offices and storage. The NFD is working with a paidon-call model but needed provisions to expand to a full-time model within the next 10 years.

This two-story concept maximizes efficiency and multipurpose spaces. The training room has direct access to the exterior and city hall, so it may be used by the NFD, city staff and the community at large. The serving kitchen opens to the training room for catering large meetings, while the other side opens to the apparatus bay to serve community functions, such as the annual Booya fundraiser. Although the hose tower allows for drying hoses, it’s designed for a variety of training exercises. The metal grate floor has a sewer cover for raising and lowering and confined-space rescue. A practice standpipe allows firefighters to spray down the entire hose tower. The storage room at the south side of the mezzanine is designed as an ICC 500 storm shelter. The restroom is accessible to the public park to the south. The roof that’s adjacent to the second story was designed for the future addition of six bunkrooms, with access planned through the file room window. In addition to their private dayroom, firefighters also have access to shared amenities, such as a fitness room, a rooftop patio and conference rooms.

Architect/Firm Name: Brunton Architects & Engineers