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

The village of Hanover Park Fire Department decided to create a new facility to support 21st century needs, to accommodate modern and future-sized apparatus, to provide expected levels of privacy in bunkrooms and changing areas, to support physical fitness and mental wellness, and to provide diverse training opportunities where prioritized.

A site was selected that provides an advantageous emergency response framework and prominent presence. The large property also supports expanded apparatus bays, space for public and staff support, and on-site training options, with a planned future department storage building.

Critical success factors included: maintaining the station project budget; fostering a civic connection between the station and the community; creating a mission-focused station that supports fire staff priorities with low maintenance burdens for building and site; communicating progress in public safety services through the outward image and processes for operations; planning for or accommodating all department storage needs; introducing spaces that are adaptable and expandable; providing a workplace environment that’s future facing and is supported technologically; sustainability metrics around energy and water use and material durability; incorporating infrastructure opportunities and appropriate redundancies to be resilient; and supporting the physical, mental, and cultural health and wellness of users. In regard to the latter, the Station Design Awards judges were complimentary of the meditation garden; “Great idea,” one judge said.

A combination of gable and shed roof forms blend the building into the residential surroundings, and masonry materials relate to municipal buildings.

This familiar form permitted the project to align with budget goals, relate to neighborhood context, and include limited maintenance and relatable  materials and systems. The gable forms support future additions, and the exterior materiality provides a durable solution that conveys the longevity of a civic building.

The workplace environment deploys technology, operations, and firefighter wellness and safety in multiple design features. Resolved in a compact T shaped form, the station leaves sufficient space for a functional front apparatus apron. This provides high visibility to the public and site circulation space for large vehicle access and training and preserves an outdoor space for firefighter wellness.

Every station portion is coded into Hot/Warm/Cold Zones to indicate the relative potential threat level to building users from cross-contamination of environmental materials that are related to fire service. Operational spaces are measured for proximity to respond with access to apparatus bays and vehicles.

Ample amenities are provided to promote mental, physical and emotional well-being for firefighters, including a gradient of privacy from active areas to more private spaces for rest and contemplation, fitness-specific areas that are centrally located between living areas and training spaces, and a wellness patio for decompression.

Perimeter load-bearing concrete masonry units are combined with light-gauge roof trusses and interior bearing walls as required, which provides efficient use of materials and limits the transitions involved. Strategies for heating and cooling are catered to the operational areas and needs by zones. The apparatus bay and support spaces utilize gas-fired radiant systems and high-volume/low-speed fans. Living quarters utilize residential-style air handlers and exterior operable windows. Passive energy performance strategies guide window and shading placement.

Architect: Dewberry