This facility received a Career 1 Gold Award in the 2023 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.
Located within a mile of Saginaw’s iconic grain elevators and railroad junction, this site serves as an anchor to the city core, standing alongside city hall, the town’s senior center, the library and the police department. As Saginaw’s first new city building in 15 years, this 28,500-sq.-ft., five-bay, pull-thru fire station, administration building, emergency operations center (EOC) and training facility protects citizens while providing an opportunity to give a unique, proud face to the growing community.
The station’s design tips its hat to traditional Texas housing, with a “dogtrot” layout, and recalls the city’s agricultural past, with stone, rusted steel, concrete and wood throughout. A public-facing administration building sits comfortably next to the fire station, with a covered, landscaped breezeway in between. The graded site beautifully integrates native plant life into a bioswale to naturally enhance stormwater quality.
To the east and facing the street, the administration building welcomes the public into a lobby that leads to service areas, including a triage area for EMS and a conference room for meetings. A storm-hardened training room supports classroom training and a configurable EOC, which is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology to support emergency operations command and control.
The fire station houses three crews of full-time firefighters plus a battalion chief. The floor plan prioritizes speed and efficiency: Two straight-shot corridors lead to the brightly daylit apparatus bay with a minimum number of footsteps. The heart of the interior design focuses directly on crew wellness and well-being as well as efficient operations. Dual clerestory windows throughout the building provide an abundance of natural light. A comfortable, inviting kitchen, dayroom and fitness area enhance team dynamics. The fitness and dining areas open to a spacious patio and courtyard, where crew members can work out, unwind and regroup.
Architect/Firm Name: BRW Architects
