In Quarters: Beacon, NY, Fire Department

This facility received the Renovations Silver award in the 2025 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

The Beacon Fire Department, which historically was a volunteer-led organization that operated from three stations that dated back to the 19th century, faced increasing pressure to consolidate its operations into a modern, centralized facility. In 2006, the architectural firm began to collaborate with the city to explore options for merging the department’s three independent companies. The final solution included a transformative renovation and expansion of the centrally located Lewis Tompkins Hose Company Station.

The project encountered significant design, budgetary and logistical hurdles. Initially, volunteer members insisted on maintaining separate community and workspaces for each company. As the volunteer base declined and the reliance on career firefighters grew, the department’s needs changed significantly. By 2025, the number of active volunteers fell to three from 80, while the number of career staff increased to 18 from 13. This shift required a reevaluation of the department’s spatial and operational priorities, including the development of a layout that could accommodate a fully career-based staffing model and support operations 24/7.

The original station was located on a narrow side street, which provided limited space for emergency vehicles. This often forced vehicles into pedestrian pathways. The redesign positions the building toward a wider road that’s better connected and introduces a deeper apron, to facilitate safer staging.

The orientation and central location significantly improve response efficiency and public safety. The renovated station prioritizes firefighter health, safety and operational efficiency, incorporating clearly defined Hot, Warm and Cold Zones. The facility includes a dedicated decontamination laundry, Hot Zone showers and an acoustically isolated SCBA fill station.

The living and sleeping quarters are located strategically for quick access to the apparatus bay, to help to reduce response times and sleep disruption. Training elements were integrated into the building’s layout. The former apparatus bay was converted into a dedicated EMS response area that has ample adjacent storage. Additional features include a fully equipped fitness room and American with Disabilities Act-compliant facilities. The station ensures long-term environmental and financial sustainability. The building operates entirely on electricity and utilizes geothermal ground-source heat pumps for heating and cooling. High-performance insulation exceeds code requirements. A heat recovery ventilation system maintains indoor air quality while conserving energy. Together, these systems reduce the building’s carbon footprint, lower operating costs and support the city’s broader climate goals.

The redesign addresses a long-standing visual disconnect. The previous station clashed with the city’s historic character, particularly because of its prominent location across from City Hall. The renovation enhances the civic presence and achieves architectural harmony, to create an inviting gateway that honors Beacon’s rich heritage while embodying its vision for the future. The Station Design Awards judges agreed and considered the exterior renovation greatly in their recognition of the facility as a Silver award winner. Six of the seven judges rated the station’s overall architectural design as an 8 or higher (on a scale of 1–10, with 10 being the best).

Architects: Wendel/Five Bugles Design and Mitchell Associates Architects