The architect drawing up plans for the new downtown fire station
expects the project will be ready for construction bids in late
summer, with the work starting in October or November.
A representative from WLC Architects on Monday night presented
conceptual plans for the station, with the construction cost
estimated at $4.9 million for the replacement building at the site
of the current structure at Fifth and Sally streets. The company,
however, did not indicate how long construction might last.
The architect drawing up plans for the new downtown fire station expects the project will be ready for construction bids in late summer, with the work starting in October or November.
A representative from WLC Architects on Monday night presented conceptual plans for the station, with the construction cost estimated at $4.9 million for the replacement building at the site of the current structure at Fifth and Sally streets. The company, however, did not indicate how long construction might last.
Some of the details in the plan shared at Monday’s meeting included the following:
– It would be about 12,300 square feet and two stories, about twice the size of the current station at about 6,000 square feet.
– The main conference room would be on the second floor, with a smaller conference room on the first floor.
– The building is designed to last about 100 years.
– The equipment bays would face Sally Street, with the main entrance on Fifth Street.
– It would not include solar panels, though the architect noted use of other energy conservation practices such as placing canopies above windows.
– There would be an exercise room with equipment on the first floor.
– It would include a bathroom on the first floor in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act. One resident speaker, meanwhile, expressed concern about lacking ADA access to the second floor where the main conference room would be located.
– To save money, it would not have a hose tower for cleaning purposes, as crews would use the equipment already at Fire Station No. 2 and they would transport hoses there from the downtown station with a pickup truck.
– The architectural firm noted how bids for similar fire station projects have been coming in under initial estimates, and the hope is that it also occurs with the Hollister project.
