Seamlessly Expanded, Thoughtfully Designed: A Fire Station Built to Serve 24/7

The Brighton Area Fire Authority sought to transform an existing paid-on-call operation into a fully operational 24-hour fire station capable of meeting the growing community's needs. PARTNERS in Architecture led the design and planning process, ensuring the station remained fully functional during construction. The project involved strategic additions on both sides of the existing apparatus bay, carefully sequenced to minimize disruption to ongoing operations.

On the north side, a mezzanine addition was constructed, featuring a three-story hose tower and specialized spaces such as a decontamination room, decon laundry, tool closet, compressor room, SCBA fill room, and storage areas. This space also supports firefighter training scenarios, including rappelling, ladder drills, and climbing through a designated mezzanine floor opening. The south side additions replaced an outdated kitchen/laundry building with a new 50-person training room, administrative offices, and functional spaces such as a radio room, watch room, and conference room. The expansion also added essential amenities, including a weightlifting room, dayroom, modernized kitchen, dormitory for six firefighters, and men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers.

The exterior façade of the station was upgraded to align the additions with the existing apparatus bay, enhancing the overall aesthetic and functionality. Two ADA-compliant entrances were integrated, providing a dedicated access point for cadets attending the training program. Upgraded mechanical and electrical systems were implemented to support the station’s expanded use. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, PARTNERS successfully adhered to the $4,000,000 budget and delivered the project on schedule. The station now stands as a fully equipped, resilient facility, enabling the fire authority to better serve the community.