In Quarters: Tukwila, WA, Fire Station 51

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

The city of Tukwila consists of suburban neighborhoods, an industrial zone and vehicular-oriented commercial areas that are clustered around the intersection of two freeways. The population fluctuates dramatically, growing by as much as 500 percent during the day when thousands come to work and shop within the city’s boundaries. The design team was tasked with programming and designing three fire stations on new sites that were selected to better serve the population.

To establish a unified civic presence throughout the city, the design team proposed a shared architectural language for the new stations that was expressive of their function and the city’s commitment to serve its residents.

Fire Station 51 was completed first. Rather than attempt to fit it in with its surroundings, the station was designed to stand out against the sea of big box stores and loading docks, to create an oasis for the firefighters and a civic landmark for residents and visitors.

The city had high aspirations for both the programming and performance of its new stations. However, a limited budget and skyrocketing costs meant difficult decisions had to be made to prioritize needs. The design team used an initial sustainability meeting to identify cost-effective methods to deliver efficient and resilient stations as an alternative to investing in a costly accreditation program. Fire Station 51 was designed for future expansion.

The design team collaborated with those who would be using the station on a daily basis. The firefighters asked for an efficient building that supported training and minimized response times but also for a place where they could rest and refresh between stressful calls. Natural light, open spaces and shielding the firefighters from the bustle of the station’s highly commercial surroundings were priorities. The operational areas and bunkrooms are organized around the apparatus bay to provide efficient response times, while the living areas are oriented to a central courtyard that connects them to each other and to the restorative landscape beyond. The Station Design Awards judges appreciated this design element.

The department values connection with the community, but its stations typically aren’t accessible to the public. One exception is the entry lobby. The site design encourages public interaction with the building and the department by creating an inviting place for pedestrians to pause. A wedge-shaped walkway leads from the street to the lobby, past generous seat walls and native landscaping. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a cantilevered bench and wall-mounted slab that was repurposed from an historic maple tree that grew nearby and fell during the planning of the station.

Architect: Weinstein A+U