The Value of a Second Opinion: Station Design Conference's 1-on-One Program

Whether a major medical diagnosis, purchase of a new house or extensive car repairs, getting a second opinion is always worth the time and effort. It also usually offers peace of mind about whether to proceed.

Designing a new fire station or renovating an existing one is a mind-blowing financial investment and it should last 30-50 years or more. No matter how long your list of needs and wants for a new station or the replacement of an existing one, the project is a major undertaking. A new station or facility needs to meet department and community requirements, account for the department's growth, and prioritize the physical and mental health and safety of firefighters and EMS.

At some point, whether rough sketches, request for proposals (RFPs), or working blueprints, it’s worth investing the time to get a second opinion to make sure your fire station or public safety facility project is on target and to save time and money from potential mistakes and reduce change orders.

We frequently hear from participants in the Station Design Conference 1-on-One program that it was the “best part of the conference” to help with their specific project.

I would like to share a little history about the 1-on-One program, a pre-conference session, which is a unique program. The four architectural firms, from California, New York, Viriginia and Washington, were among the speakers at the Fire Chief Magazine Station Style program in 2027 in Phoenix, AZ. Because of the timing of flights to the East Coast, many attendees stayed overnight after the afternoon sessions ended. The teams from the four firms asked whether they could use an open room to answer questions from some attendees.

The informal gathering was popular, and the team asked if they could do it again the following year, after the conference. I agreed, but they had to organize it, and no self-promotion was allowed. They agreed and titled it 1-on-One, with pre-scheduled individual meetings with attendees for an objective review of their station designs. The team rotates among the four firms to lead the program each year. 

When Fire Chief shut down in 2013, Firehouse asked me to start a fire station conference and in 2014, the Firehouse Station Design Conference was held. We invited the 1-on-One team to continue to offer their exclusive program at the annual Station Design Conference. Four years ago, we expanded the program to registered law enforcement attendees and added additional 1-on-One staff.

Today, three of the firms are the original founders. The current program is run by four non-competing firms spanning various geographies across the country: H2M architects + engineering, FGM Architects (FGMA), TCA Architecture Planning, and COAR Design Group.

After their individual meetings, attendees often say that the discussions can save time and money from the third-party review. The meetings are limited to registered fire and law enforcement departments and municipal leaders. "You wouldn't take your doctor with you for a second opinion" is the response to questions about the restriction.

The 1-on-One program for the 2026 Station Design Conference pre-conference, Monday, May 18th, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the conference registration, a separate program registration is required. If possible, arriving on Sunday night would ensure early participation in this program.