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

Station #7 houses a single engine company that specializes in swiftwater and rope rescue operations. Located on a donated 2.4-acre site, the facility is designed with a focus on response, community space, in-house training, and firefighter wellness and recovery.

Three response bays provide ample room for the three emergency vehicles and equipment. Situated in a mountainous region, the station incorporates landscape and training features that are tailored particularly for mountain rescue operations, reflecting a comprehensive approach to emergency preparedness and training.

Numerous integrated training props that are within the facility allow crews to conduct rope, boat and rescue scenarios on site. The Station Design Awards judges praised the execution of this.

A dual-purpose system combines decontamination with everyday use. Utilizing the concept of Hot, Warm and Cold Zones, the station design ensures that the firefighters, their bunker gear and their living quarters remain contaminant free.

Sleeping room lockers triple the storage capacity compared with that of the previous lockers. A residential-style appliance package offers commercial grade performance as a means to simplify use and reduce maintenance costs.

The kitchen/dining area allows the entire crew to maintain visibility and foster camaraderie. The design incorporates significant aspects of Poudre Fire Authority’s rich history, including an office layout that’s reminiscent of the old dispatch system. Historical artifacts, such as the bells and signs from the previous station and spiral stairs from the original Station 1 tower, are included.

A large community room can be reserved by residents for use. The room doubles as a training room; it contains ample anchors for a hands-on rope rigging classroom experience and a high-tech audio-video system.

Materials that are durable and easy to clean between shifts were prioritized in the design of the facility. Features include polished concrete flooring, stainless steel fixtures, and carpets that are designed to mask stains from dirt, coffee and boot polish.

The shower panels are engineered with only three seams to minimize mold risk; textured glass ensures privacy without compromising aesthetics. Rainfall shower heads offer relaxation after challenging calls.

Positioned across from the bay to minimize disruptions to firefighters, the gym was designed with flexibility for indoor/outdoor workouts, including an overhead door from the gym to an outdoor exercise area.

To support natural sleep-wake rhythms, circadian lighting is incorporated into the dayroom/office and dorms. Like natural sunlight, the lights cycle in color throughout the day. Blue performance office lighting enhances alertness; red recovery dorm lighting promotes restful sleep. The dorms also have sound attenuation and blackout shades to further improve sleep quality.

“There is a lot packed inside of this station,” one Station Design Awards judge said. “A clear focus on functionality, health, fitness and response.”

Architect: Poudre Fire Authority