In Quarters: DeLand, FL, Fire Station 81

This facility received the Career 1 Bronze Award in the 2022 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

The city of DeLand’s Fire Station 81 has been a prominent community fixture for more than 50 years. What started as a volunteer station became an integral part of the historic downtown landscape. Located two blocks from Main Street, the replacement station creates synergy among the adjacent City Hall, police station and post office, honoring public safety’s presence in the heart of DeLand.

The aesthetic brings in a palette of Chicago brick and red arched bay doors that are reminiscent of a historic brigade station, with sloped roofs that complement the residential feel of the neighborhood. The station’s interior program blends health, safety and training principles with a design that’s centered on rapid response times. With four drive-through apparatus bays, the station can house as many as eight apparatus.

The station segregates the Hot, Warm and Cold Zones with air locks for decontamination. Gear wash and gear storage areas are separated from the rest of the facility. Balancing these essential areas also gives members a warm, comfortable living environment. A modern industrial interior is accented with brick and wood ceiling details, which are highlighted by daylight in the kitchen and lounge. A fitness area, offices and bunkrooms give the crew space to decompress.

Training was an essential part of the vision for the new station. The training tower innovatively utilized the two-story egress stair by adding a third story that has integrated standpipes to allow for confined-space, rappelling, hose and rooftop drills. These built-in components are flexible for future changes in training requirements or practices. The multipurpose space at the front of the facility is used by staff for training and education as well as by the local community for meetings and special events.

The original Fire Station 81 was designed to only accommodate “firemen.” The new station expands the station’s capacity to field calls and to foster a diverse workforce.

Designed to operate 24/7, the station is an essential, hardened, survivable facility. All utilities have full redundancy through a backup generator.

Designed according to Green Globes requirements, the station incorporates sustainable design elements, including locally sourced building materials, low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-VOC materials, a recycling program and LED light fixtures.    

Architect/Firm Name: SchenkelShultz Architecture