In Quarters: Davenport, IA, Fire Station No. 3

This facility received the Career 1 Notable award in the 2025 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

Fire Station No. 3 is sited strategically in an underdeveloped gateway to reduce response times, establish a civic presence, and support firefighters’ physical and mental wellness.

The site stretches east-west between two of the city’s busiest one-way north and south arterial roads. It was selected to drive development between two of the city’s busiest roads, which serve as both a primary entrance and exit to the community.

The transitional-style design is a modern reflection of the city’s historic fire station that creates a catalyst for development in the area. Off-white brick complements the wood that’s used to warm the façade and connect to the exposed wood roof deck in the apparatus bays, the second-level terrace and interior living areas.

The building massing is anchored on the east by the two-story apparatus bay and its single slope roof, to create a double-height glass façade, to maximize daylight and establish a civic presence, an element that multiple Station Design Awards judges complimented, stating “great design” and “engaging.” The design is balanced on the west by another double-height glass façade at the public areas on the first floor and the firefighters’ living areas on the second floor.

The simple plan and massing and straightforward sequence of spaces create a highly efficient facility layout in the view of the Station Design Awards judges, which is essential for reducing response times as well as creating economy of material use. The space that’s above the support areas in the apparatus bays creates an area for training, while the hose drying tower doubles as a technical training stair. The community room doubles as an ICC 500-rated storm shelter and, along with the conference room, is used frequently by community and city groups. A police workstation saves officers from traveling downtown to take care of paperwork or to work out.

Strategic sequencing of spaces, including a decontamination clean room that’s between the bays and the rest of the building, mitigates exposure to carcinogens through physical decon procedures as well as air pressurization, to ensure that contaminants are kept out of station clean zones.

The living areas, which include a full kitchen and a TV and gaming area, are wrapped in full-height glazing with exposed wood ceilings, to ensure that firefighters have a variety of space types to relax and recharge.

The transparency of the façade creates a civic presence by displaying the work that’s done within the station while also connecting members to the community. Full-height glass in the apparatus bays and living and public spaces and an exterior deck offer direct connection to the outdoors and daylighting that reinforces circadian rhythms.

The floor plan of the facility strategically separates public areas from those that are used exclusively by firefighters.

Architect: OPN Architects