In Quarters: Brunswick, ME, Fire Department Central Station

This facility received the Career 1 Notable award in the 2024 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.

More than 40 years in the making, Brunswick Fire Department’s new Central Station is one of the most efficient, firefighter-friendly facilities that’s located in the state of Maine. The onestory, 28,013-sq.-ft. station provides seven drive-through apparatus bays along with effective working and living spaces for Brunswick’s 40-member fire and EMS team. The station was designed to maximize public safety as well as to protect firefighter health and safety through firematic programming and the use of rigorous Hot Zone/Cold Zone separation and accessible, gender-neutral spaces.

Like many legacy firehouses, Brunswick’s former central station was built when horse-drawn equipment was in use and was unable to accommodate the largest modern engines. The new drive-through apparatus bay is sized and configured for the safe movement, storage, cleaning and maintenance of today’s vehicles. It features a tailpipe exhaust system, dedicated decontamination areas, and strategic spaces for lockers, turnout gear, equipment and storage.

Outside, the 2.4-acre site design supports the safe entry and egress of emergency vehicles as well as provides ample, separated parking areas for staff and visitors to the station.

Fire and rescue personnel must respond to emergency situations at a moment’s notice, requiring professionals who are physically prepared and well rested. To support this, the new station includes a fitness room, with bunkrooms located on the quiet side of the building. The apparatus bay’s 1,793-sq.-ft. mezzanine provides rescue training opportunities to help emergency responders to keep their skills sharp. Other key personnel spaces include a well-lit kitchen with adjacent dayroom and gender-neutral bathrooms, showers, lockers and laundry facilities.

The station’s user-friendly administrative wing includes offices, a large training/meeting room with kitchenette, a conference room, a radio room, and abundant spaces for storage, maintenance support, data and mechanical systems.

Brunswick’s Central Station also includes a museum for historic apparatus and memorabilia, which is visible to passers-by and accessed by a secure public entrance.

Architect/Firm Name: WBRC with Mitchell Associates Architects