This facility received the Career 2 Bronze Award at the 2024 Firehouse Station Design Awards. The full list of winners can be found here.
Located 25 miles west of the Phoenix area, Station 188 occupies 4.29 acres of the 8.62-acre site, leaving 4.33 acres of open space for a future police station. The site includes public parking, staff parking, an outdoor patio, generator, water retention and waterfront landscaping.
The desert landscape and surrounding community inspired the design team to create a fire station that combines traditional and modern elements. Durable natural materials and muted earth tones create a sense of place and pay homage to the region's architectural heritage.
The station is a prototype that can be adapted to future locations. It includes three equipment bays, eight dormitories, a captain's dormitory, a fitness room, an outdoor cooking area, a work/living room and support rooms. The facility also includes a mezzanine, a rear apron and a three-story training tower.
The city commissioned a local artist to create a mural celebrating the area's culture and agricultural history.
Hot zone signage throughout the building allows firefighters to quickly identify each area. Decontamination showers were strategically placed in the transition corridors between equipment bays and living areas to help crew remove contaminants from their skin and clothing.
The design team and fire department demonstrated their resilience and commitment by successfully overcoming critical challenges. These included the annexation and modernization of the Citrus Road midway, a relocation of the drilling site and construction escalations during a rapidly expanding market.
The state-of-the-art fire station is designed to exceed current industry standards and best practices in compliance, efficiency, safety, cleanliness and disease prevention. Its thoughtful design and strategic features are aimed at improving firefighter effectiveness and their ability to serve the community.
Architect/company name: Perlman Architects