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

Fire Station No. 1, which is one of three stations that serve the city, is located adjacent to City Hall on a sloped site that’s within a residential neighborhood.

The existing multilevel, 10,047-sq.-ft. main station, which was constructed in 1961, had a sound structure but needed renovations to meet current fire service standards.

The department prioritized the following project goals: apparatus bay additions and renovations; sleeping quarter renovations; new building services; gear storage and decontamination spaces; office spaces to relocate fire administration from Fire Station No. 2; functional fitness space; kitchen and dayroom renovation; and new responding apron and asphalt shingle roof.

The solution included three separate additions to provide new apparatus storage and training space, a physical fitness and dining/patio space and administrative office space.

Site improvements included connecting the multilevel parking areas to provide additional firefighter parking and allow circulation around the site.

Interior alterations to the first and second floor provided renovated dormitory space, kitchen and dayroom updates, and turnout and gear laundry storage spaces. The original office space was reconfigured into decon and apparatus support spaces, and the apparatus bays were renovated from four narrow bays to three right-sized bays.

The façade of the building was reimagined to reflect the new bay configuration.

A new brick veneer that matches the additions was added to the façade to tie the overall composition together. “Curbside appeal is impressive,” one Station Design Awards judge remarked. “Really handsome,” said another.

The prominence of the existing gable form was maintained and centered within the north and south additions. The existing station contained four different floor elevations because of the east/west slope of the site. The three new additions are all at various levels because of the floor elevation of the existing space that they adjoin and the grading of the site. The exterior envelope efficiency of existing single-wythe masonry was improved by adding rigid insulation board to the interior of the exterior walls of the living quarters. The existing gable shingle roof was removed and replaced.

New window openings were cut into the walls of the building to bring additional natural light to the interior living quarters and to the dayroom spaces. 

Interior acoustical ceilings were removed to expose the concrete tee structural system and gain much needed height for the interior spaces. All services and systems were exposed but kept above the bottom of the tees to reduce clutter and maintain ceiling height. Strategically placed bulkheads were used to conceal services that run perpendicular to the tees. A new vestibule was added with the west addition for the firefighter entry, and a fire-rated transition vestibule was added between the living quarters and the bays to separate the Hot and Cold Zones. A dedicated turnout gear storage room that has climate and dehumidification controls, a decon alcove for equipment, and a personal decon toilet and shower were added adjacent to the bays.

Architect: Mull & Weithman Architects