In Quarters: Drexel Heights, Tucson, AZ, Fire District Station 401

This facility received the Renovations Notable Award in the 2021 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

In 1989, the Drexel Heights Fire District, which serves an area that’s west of Tucson, AZ, rebuilt its original Station No. 1 on this site to serve as both a fire station and administration offices for the district. In 2019, after service to this region for more than 30 years, the station (now Station 401) needed to expand and to modernize to better support its diverse growing community. After relocating the administration offices, the station was gutted completely, with only the original concrete floors and masonry walls remaining. This approach provided all new spaces for the station while reusing the existing building’s structure to save money and time on construction.

The station originally contained the living quarters south of the apparatus bays; the administrative offices filled out the rest of the building. Wood trusses clear-spanned to the existing exterior masonry walls. After demolition, light metal framing and trusses were used to heighten the building while maintaining the clear span to the existing masonry. New modern metal cladding was added atop the metal framing and existing masonry structure, extending the wall and roof for more space in the apparatus bays and the rest of the building.

The station now contains updated living quarters for eight crew members, including dormitory rooms and a new open-concept kitchen/dining room/dayroom. A small addition to the north adds space for a fitness center, a dining room, offices and entry. A new patio offers access to views of the desert and provides a space to support the crews’ health and wellness. South of the apparatus bays are the support areas, which originally housed the living quarters.

This unique renovation of Station 401 retains the characteristics of the original station while modernizing and improving functionality.

Architect/Firm Name: WSM Architects