In Quarters: Mountain Brook, AL, Fire Station No. 2

This facility received the Career 2 Bronze award in the 2025 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

The city of Mountain Brook initiated a project to address the aging Fire Station No. 2, which was built in the 1960s. An initial feasibility study considered rebuilding on the existing site, but this option proved costly because of limited space and the need for extensive retaining walls.

The design team identified a more suitable and cost-effective alternative: a nearby two acre site with an unused church building, which the city subsequently purchased. This new location not only meets the current operational needs but also allows for future municipal expansion.

A key design priority is firefighter health and safety, particularly in minimizing cancer risks from carcinogen exposure. The new station is organized into Hot, Warm and Cold Zones to manage contamination, with a circular workflow for efficient decontamination after emergency responses.

Fire separations and positive pressurization of both the decon wing and the residential wing protect the rest of the station from any contaminants. A phased approach uses a “pre-decon” space to keep carcinogens within the Hot Zone and to allow for ease of access for the firefighters.

Innovative elements to support the firefighters include red light use throughout the residential wing to reduce eye fatigue for night calls, study rooms for decompression, a spiral slide rather than a traditional pole and an infrared sauna.

The facility is designed for both current functionality and future adaptability. The building was designed to allow for a future ladder truck to be added to the station. Spaces were designed to allow for increased capacity without limiting useability. The layout consists of three direct access points from the main building into the apparatus bay to reduce response times. The Station Design Awards judges considered this “great connectivity” notable among the facilities that they assessed. Light, bi-folding station doors reduce response times and reduce downtime if the doors malfunction.

Features include dedicated training spaces, private dorm rooms for each firefighter, and amenities that support both physical training and daily living.

The exterior is designed to blend with the surrounding residential neighborhood, using materials and forms that are common to local homes. The building’s massing and landscaping minimize its visual impact and maintain neighborhood character, while practical considerations, such as concealing rooftop equipment, are integrated into the design. The Station Design Awards judges took particular notice here. Remarks included “innovative and unexpected exterior design,” “really good reflection of the community and the environment surrounding the facility” and “fine example of suburban residential aesthetics.”

The site design pulled the station forward to the main road, to provide the means to grant separation from the rear neighbors. The station is positioned for visibility down Overton Road, where, previously, firefighters would stop traffic to back into the old station.

The design brings a sense of scale to an otherwise large building with the use of a two-story residential wing. Even the landscape was designed to feel residential, while meeting the requirements of a “Bee City.”

Architect: Barrett Kent Studio