Neenan Archistruction and City of Salida, CO, Celebrate Grand Opening of New Fire Station
SALIDA, Colo., March 10, 2025—The City of Salida in Southwest Colorado is pleased to celebrate the grand opening of its new Fire Station. Neenan Archistruction, a fully integrated design-build firm based in Fort Collins, led ground-up development for the state-of-the-art new station, replacing the city’s previous fire station that had aged out of useful life. The city’s original fire station was more than 100 years old, the seventh oldest active firehouse in the country, and lacked the capacity to address the needs of a modern fire station.
“It is truly an honor to open this beautiful, new fire station. Our firefighters go to great lengths to protect us, so it is fitting for us to do what we can to protect them,” said Salida Mayor Dan Shore. “This upgrade means improved safety, wellness and training for our firefighters, and it represents a milestone for our community.”
Completed on budget, the project provides 20,345 square feet of modernized space, which will improve functionality, training and safety for firefighters. The space seeks to provide Salida’s firefighters with increased protections that were not available in the previous facility. Firefighters face an elevated risk of both being diagnosed with and dying of cancer due to their exposure to the many harmful toxins and materials found in burning buildings. With this in mind, the fire station includes decontamination zones and an isolated gear-washing space, to prevent the spread of dangerous carcinogens and potentially save lives.
“Cancer rates are rising amongst firefighters, and minimizing exposure to carcinogens through decontamination and an isolated gear-washing is one more thing we can do to prioritize health and safety,” explained Fire Chief Aaron Jonke. “While seemingly simple, these improvements are real investments into the immediate and long-term well-being of our team.”
In a 2016 research study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 73% of firefighters studied reported poor sleep quality as a result of their work schedule. Recognizing the detrimental impact that poor sleep quality has on cognition and health, Neenan designed this new fire station to better meet both the mental and physical health needs of its important tenants. The space offers individual sleeping quarters located away from the garage to decrease noise levels from trucks and live calls. There will also be shower rooms, a kitchen, laundry room, fitness room and an improved communal living space that promotes relaxation. For increased training opportunities, the new facility will feature a three-story training tower, allowing firefighters to conduct real-life rescue scenarios.
Finally, the new firehouse is designed to address the needs of today while keeping the future in mind. Constructed with durable materials that will require minimal maintenance and a design that accommodates the growth of Salida’s community, this achievement is one that will stand to serve the community for another century to come. Moreover, in alignment with Salida's 2021 Climate Action Plan, the building is equipped with strategies to reduce energy consumption and save on energy costs, including window placement to maximize natural daylight, and solar panels that will be installed after the building’s completion to offset energy required from the grid.
“First responders are the everyday heroes of our communities. They do so much for us, and we need to be thinking about what it is that we can do for them. That’s why our entire Neenan team was extremely proud to partner with the City of Salida to design and create this incredible new space for their fire department. By better serving them, we better serve us all,” said Bill Pigg at Neenan Archistruction.
Firefighters have moved in and are adjusting to the new space. This spring, there will be a celebration of the city’s firefighters and their exciting new home.
You can take a virtual tour of the new Salida fire station here.
About Neenan Archistruction:
Neenan Archistruction strengthens and builds communities across the country with an integrated and entrepreneurial approach to design, construction and development projects. Founded in 1966, the Colorado-based firm is a pioneer of the design-build model and specializes in creating commercial, education, health care and community facilities that generate economic vitality and inspire people to be well, to learn and to lead. More information is available at www.neenan.com.
About City of Salida:
The City of Salida, CO, is the statutory seat of Chaffee County with a population of approximately 5,700 residents. Salida is a family-friendly community ideally situated in central Colorado - known by many as the “Heart of the Rockies,” both for its geographic location and the abundance of arts, cultural and recreational amenities found here. The city is dedicated to maintaining a safe, fiscally responsible and forward-thinking government where residents, businesses and visitors can thrive. Explore more about Salida at www.cityofsalida.com.
