In Quarters: Irving, TX, Central Fire Station

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

The Central Fire Station represents a thoughtful evolution in emergency response facility design, seamlessly integrating modern functionality with community heritage. The two-story facility replaces an aging structure while honoring the past through an incorporated fire museum that showcases antique apparatus and cherished memorabilia.

The design team maximized the limited site footprint through strategic planning, a matter that the Station Design Awards judges praised. This includes incorporating drive-through apparatus bays, an on-site fuel station and emergency generator systems, without compromising operational efficiency.

Environmental responsibility guided the facility’s development, achieving LEED Certification through carefully selected energy-efficient building systems, thoughtful reuse of original building elements, and climate appropriate landscaping that enhances both sustainability and community appeal.

The design prioritizes firefighter health and safety through innovative features, including a source-capture exhaust removal system and a dedicated decontamination shower transition zone between apparatus bays and living areas, to significantly reduce exposure to carcinogens. The Station Design Awards judges found this facet of the facility’s design among its best. The facility’s layout reflects a deep understanding of fire department culture and operational needs. An open-concept living area fosters camaraderie among shifts, while shared amenities, such as a single pantry and common refrigerators, encourage collaboration between members.

The design embraces inclusivity through gender-neutral locker areas that have individual shower and toilet facilities.

Strategic placement of semiprivate dormitory pods on the second floor provides necessary quiet and privacy for rest periods, while maintaining rapid response capabilities through the installation of two fire poles.

Safety considerations extend beyond daily operations to include an ICC 500-rated storm shelter that serves a dual purpose as the bunker gear locker area.

Every design decision reflects a commitment to creating a facility that not only meets current operational demands but anticipates future needs.

Architect: Martinez Architects