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

Garland Fire Station No. 6 is inspired by the city’s mid-century modern downtown architecture. The station was designed to overcome significant site challenges, including Texas Department of Transportation highway restrictions to site access, by maximizing functionality within a compact footprint and creating intuitive site circulation for both emergency vehicles and for visitors to the facility.

The station features three drive-through apparatus bays that are designed to maximize visibility from the highway through a glazed curtainwall façade that highlights the department’s pride in its fleet. The exterior’s smooth brick, metallic silver accents, and bold black and red elements create a sleek, contemporary presence to reflect the speed and efficiency of fire operations.

Horizontal projecting courses accentuate the building’s elongated profile, to reinforce its horizontality and create a sense of balance and grounded-ness. Projecting brick headers add texture and depth to otherwise plain walls, to cast dynamic shadow patterns throughout the day, which enhance the visual appeal and give the structure a unique, evolving character.

A key focus of the station is the comprehensive decontamination sequence that’s designed to support firefighter health and safety. Upon returning from a call, firefighters follow a dedicated path: Contaminated gear is dropped in the extractor room, followed by a decon shower, a sauna to help to remove toxins, a second shower and, finally, a locker room for clean clothing. Indoor air qualityis protected by apparatus bay exhaust, enhanced tailpipe scrubbers, air purification filters and building pressurization through the air locks. The Station Design Awards judges considered the commitment to decon among the best of what they found in the facilities that they assessed.

The living quarters wrap around a private courtyard, to provide natural daylight, views outside and a tranquil retreat for firefighters. A detached fitness room provides acoustic separation from the station’s living quarters while offering a covered outdoor fitness training zone.

Natural light, warm finishes and thoughtful details throughout the station create a healthy, comfortable environment. One Station Design Awards judge said, “This building would really feel like a home away from home.”

Architect: BRW Architects