1-on-One program designed for qualified attendees. Pre-registration is required. Click here for details.                                                                                                                                                                                                          

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Scheduled time for 1-on-One meetings for qualified attendees only. Pre-registration required.

The majority of fire stations in the U.S. have conditions that are unsafe for the occupants. The NFPA Research 2019 publication “Renovation Needs in the U.S. Fire Service,” found that 43% of all stations in the U.S. (21,230) were more than 40 years old. Fire Chiefs have argued for years that their stations need to be updated, or replaced, by identifying deficiencies, and the risks to the firefighter’s health and wellbeing. Knowledge of the consequences for the occupants, and empathy are not motivating enough for many municipal administrators to choose to do the right thing. When municipalities drag their heels on upgrading their fire stations, they expose themselves to potential litigation for their failure to address meaningful issues that can be common sense matters, violations of OSHA and NFPA, and can be contrary to many warnings published in specialty and general public media.

This class will offer intuitive ideas on how to incorporate station design features into their public safety facilities to improve recruitment and retention. Imagine a firehouse that not only functions as a sanctuary of safety but also as a magnet for talent. Yes, the architecture of your station CAN be your secret recruitment tool! The instructor has researched the topic of recruitment for over a decade and has implemented statewide marketing plans to improve the hiring and retention of firefighters. Using data, attendees will learn the myths and barriers to the recruitment problem and see how adding features into their current or new facilities can help improve their staffing levels.

A museum, memorials, or historical elements & references, can be distinguishing features in any Fire Station Design project. Museums and memorials tend to achieve greatest success when they are placed in a prominent, fore-front location of the project. A highly visible, prominent display will ensure the feature is well-known within the community and is a destination point. Locating a museum properly within a building should allow the visitors to enjoy the displays and learn in a safe environment and not compromise the effectiveness of the station in emergency response conditions. Museums can be large or small, featuring as few as one or many items such as historical equipment, bronze statues, memorials, photographs, turn-out gear, bells, alarms or nearly anything of significance to a specific department or community. Ken will use several of the firm’s station projects as case studies for this presentation.

First Responders consistently think about the health, safety and welfare of the general public and the people they are there to protect. But what happens when a station, stations or an entire department is damaged or destroyed as part of a natural disaster? Jay Chase will present lessons learned through the last nineteen years of working on repair, replacement and improved projects funded by FEMA. What can we do today to make it a smoother process of recovering from a potential disaster?

Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Area 

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Welcome & opening remarks

Ken Newell will introduce the audience to the foundational components necessary for the planning, design, and construction of your great Fire or Police Station. We will cover critical issues such as: • Planning and Building the Station to Stand the Test of Time • The Evolution of Public Safety Design and Recent Trends • Selecting the Design Team • Pitfalls to Avoid During the Project

Break for attendees & exhibitors

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Description of the 1-on-One program designed for qualified attendees

Lunch in the exhibit area

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The Program of Requirements is one of the most important documents for a successful project. It defines the size of the facility and its components. It plays a critical role in budget allocation and directly impacts project funding. In this session, we’ll uncover the cornerstone of any successful project and the intricate process of assembling the right team, determining the essential details to include, and understanding how this document shapes budgets and funding. We’ll define the primary components of a comprehensive program and share insights into optimizing building size, functionality, and firefighter safety. Attendees will be engaged by real-life examples, polling, and an interactive Q&A.

This presentation will discuss the benefits of early studies to help shape long-term budget numbers to keep station location and response time at the forefront of the priority list. Ret. Fire Chief Dave Slivinski and Jason Estes, Principal at FGMA, will explain the importance of location studies in the earliest stages of design thinking and share case study examples of how a feasibility study can help build support from various stakeholders including the City Council and save money both now and in the future design and construction phases of the project.

In this turbulent market, it may feel like there has never been a worse time to build your station. And yet, as construction costs continue to escalate and police facilities become more complex, there will never be a better time than today to get started. The challenges facing public projects in the current market are undeniable, but not unprecedented. This session will analyze recent history to trace the impact of economic change on construction costs and delve into the causes that drive complexity. We will provide practical takeaways and design methodologies that will help departments right-size their solution and positively impact service, safety, and fiscal responsibility.

Mackenzie’s presentation focuses on the fundamentals of how to navigate through construction drawings and specifications. Drawing nomenclature, symbols and endless acronyms can make drawing and specifications seem like a different language. The objective of the presentation focuses on introducing and familiarizing you with the different types of construction documents, how drawings are organized, how to navigate through them and what basic drawings, legends, notes and schedules mean to you as the client. With a knowledge of how to navigate and understand construction documents, you will be left with the time and capacity to review and provide input on your project’s documents where it most matters.

This session will offer different paths a fire department can choose to take, when putting together a request for Proposals or Qualifications Each fire department has different internal processes and relationships with the city officials which might influence the chosen path when putting together a request. In this session, we will go through the structure and the different sections to develop an RFQ or RFP that not only aligns with rules and regulations, but also establishes a strong and positive relationship with all parties involved. Most importantly, the result is having a fire station that works in the long run for both the community and the firefighters.

Health and Wellness by Design describes a design approach that recognizes the significant impact that fire and rescue facilities can have on the health and wellness of our first responders. Through incorporation of important design concepts such as red/yellow/green Hot Zone Design strategies to reduce contaminant exposure, Immersive Design principles to support firefighter mental health, and On-site Training to promote physical and mental readiness, we are creating improved working environments to serve and protect our those who serve and protect our communities.

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Need help identifying the optimal station location to support your existing stations, improve response times, and increase your ISO rating? This presentation will explore 3 methods for identifying the best possible location for your next fire station. We will also explore 25 different site characteristics that should be considered to help determine if a specific property will fit your facility needs. We will discuss which characteristics are “deal breakers” and which ones can be managed through thoughtful design.

Following a discussion about the potential of what a public safety building can be, we’ll be taking the audience on a Public Safety Facilities Road Trip touring the country for facility concepts, successes, challenges, and acquired knowledge from each project and how these precedents inform future trends and innovation for any project being anticipated.

Making sure your Police Station is designed with the proper security can be a daunting task - but it doesn’t have to overwhelm you. This presentation will introduce the audience to the components necessary for the planning, design, and construction of a modern and secure Police Station – from the perimeter to the core. We will cover critical issues such as: • Identifying and addressing security risks to police stations • Planning and building the station to secure the officers and civilians within • Elements and recent design trends – specific to security design • Pitfalls to Avoid During the Project This lively session will provide the attendees a solid foundation of knowledge that will make them more prepared for their police station design project.

Unlock the secrets to becoming an exemplary client within the realm of fire station and law enforcement facility design. Do you find yourself constantly at the forefront of project discussions, or do you often grapple with feeling disconnected from the decision-making process, relegated to the periphery by departments like General Services? This informative presentation is tailored to empower you with a profound understanding of your department's pivotal role in project inception. We’ll take you through the crucial early stages of project development, gaining insights into how you can maximize your effectiveness. We will explore the intricacies of shaping project budgets, crafting meticulous Requests for Proposals (RFPs), judiciously selecting your Architectural and Engineering (AE) team, and ultimately guiding the design process for your facility. Learn how to become the catalyst for successful project initiation, fostering collaboration and forging lasting partnerships that ensure the lasting public safety facilities.

Conard will concentrate on evaluating responses to RFQs and RFPs and will walk through the process of assembling a well-represented selection committee, reviewing, understanding, and evaluating the content of Qualifications and proposals, the process of short-listing, conducting interviews, and all steps leading up to the commencement of the contract negotiation process.

Besides more space, what else do you need to consider for your project? FGM’s law enforcement design experts will discuss items important for successful law enforcement projects that go beyond addressing your space issues. The discussion topics include enhancing your organization's culture, staff retention and recruitment, trends in training, health, and wellness, and future-proofing your facility. Whether you are working on a renovation or a new construction project, the ideas presented will be relevant and valuable for your project.

This presentation will explore the steps necessary to design a Net Zero Energy Fire Station. Mike will be joined by an RRM colleague to discuss a recent example to demonstrate how to efficiently design your systems, select interior, and exterior finishes, and improve layouts to all achieve net zero energy levels. Attendees will get to dive into the station with an interactive tour that points out specific elements included to effectively reach net zero energy status. The recently completed Cuyama Fire Station for Santa Barbara County will be highlighted as a Net Zero case study including an interactive video walkthrough tour of the station.

Reception for attendees and exhibitors in the exhibit area

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Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Area 

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Conference updates and announcements. 

When we are buying what is needed to survive on our daily basis, we must come up with a plan and a vision on how we are going to pay for it. This is not any different for Fire Departments. One of the biggest challenges for Fire Chiefs and Officers face, is finding the resources to meet municipal needs as well as public safety needs. Where and how do I come up with the money to pay for what I need? Do I have more funding options than just bonds? What am I missing, are there other funding options, are there different means to supplement the costs of the renovation or new build? Let’s discover alternative ways to fund the process.

Explore details to make your Sworn Locker Room, Restroom, Fitness, Patrol and Corridors more functional. From the different types of lockers to durable material selection of Corridors’ finishes, this presentation will explore some of the often-overlooked details you should consider for the Patrol related spaces within your police station. Thoughtful planning and design of key details can save square footage, reduce costs, and maximize the overall efficiency of your facility.

Local governments around the country continue to constrain their budgets and the need for suitable public safety structures remains the same. Thus, multi-agency (Fire, Law Enforcement, City Hall, etc.) public safety facilities have increased in popularity due to their potential for cost savings. During this session, Jim will describe the process of designing a multi-agency facility that not only houses multiple agencies but does so in a functional manner. Through sensible design, shared/non-shared spaces, and controlled access, a combined public safety facility can be a comprehensive and cost-effective solution to a local government’s public safety facility problem.

What is a Vehicle Exhaust Extraction System (VEX) and why is it one of the most important components of good fire station design? VEX systems are required in fire stations to remove particulates and gases from engine emissions that have been linked and documented to cause cancer and respiratory illness in the fire service. There are codes, standards, requirements, recommendations and mandates that delineate the need for VEX systems. And while requirements for these systems are clear, there are numerous systems and methods available to achieve compliance. Attendees will learn how to analyze and select the system that best suits their needs. Real-life examples and case studies will help illustrate the types and uses of the systems available. Whether attendees are new to the fire service or seasoned veterans, this presentation will provide useful information to protect the health and safety of our firefighters.

This presentation will emphasize the importance of tailoring the design to optimize departmental response times. Every department operates in a different manner. This presentation will review a variety of planning strategies that can serve career and volunteer departments – with a heavy focus on where and how turn-out gear can be stored to improve turnout times while simultaneously mitigating exposure risk. Presentation will share research and explain methodology in which response times can be calculated.

If a design checks all the programmatic boxes, it must be good, or at least complete…right? Wrong. What if we told you that a building can check all the boxes, but still be missing critical components that impact officer morale and the community experience. By employing an approach that focuses on the user experience, from the viewpoint of both the community and the staff, we’ve learned how to create more possibilities from the programmatic checklist. During this panel discussion, the architects and the department will describe how this unique approach not only checks all the boxes, but also responds to community identity, environment, context, and thoughtfully designs for people and place.

Construction costs are higher than ever. Couple that with the severe delays from the supply chain problems and you have one of the worst construction climates in US history. Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) that include your project budget established one or more years ago are likely to come up short of the funds they need, due to current high inflation and escalation rates. The supply chain issues are adding months and costs to your stressed plans. With no relief in sight, what can you do to proceed successfully in this environment? This session will first briefly examine what has occurred to station construction prices and delivery schedules over the last few years. Then, reviewing examples and lessons learned from a Public Safety design firm’s experience of over fifty years, we will explore the methods and options utilized by many fire departments to plan and build a functional, durable, low-maintenance facility without “busting the budget”.

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A case study on the three-part steps to a clean public safety facility. Why: one of the three pillars of organized labor is working conditions and why they contribute to health issues in fire stations. How: understand the process and learn how to make a difference. And, What: How to design critical areas of the station for a healthier physical and mental environment.

Mackenzie’s presentation focuses on key design strategies surrounding today’s modern law enforcement facility and how such features mitigate threats, reduce attack vulnerability, and enhance officer safety, while preserving an inviting and welcoming facility. Together with Deputy Chief Chuck Steichen of the Lynnwood Police Department, Mackenzie will use the Lynnwood Community Justice Center as a case study demonstrating the application of such strategies in a combined police, municipal jail, emergency operations center, municipal court and supporting structured parking garage. You will walk through design precedence of how such strategies can be implemented, while preserving the department culture, workflow, and public facing image of the facility. You will leave with a key plan for how to balance the human needs of your department with occupant safety in your existing or planned facility.

Lunch in the exhibit area

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Explore details to make your Dorm Rooms, Bathrooms, Kitchen, Dining, Dayroom, and Corridors more functional. From the type of locking mechanism on the bedroom lockers to the location of the gas-shutoff reset switch in the kitchen, this presentation will explore some of the often-overlooked details you should consider for each room in your fire station. Thoughtful planning and design of key details can save square footage, reduce costs, and maximize the overall efficiency of your station.

The presentation takes a deep dive into the space development options for both training and recovery spaces for first responders, including challenging some long-tenured “standards practices” in the design and details of these spaces. Ideas will explore increased flexibility, cost-efficiency, and practical use of these spaces, compared to common practice. Training spaces will include both traditional classroom (indoor and outdoor) settings, as well as physical and reality-based training settings. Discussion will include cost option studies for different scenarios meeting the needs of various size departments. Recovery spaces will include spaces for physical and emotional/mental recovery, including cutting-edge trends supported by documented research conducted by retired fire chief and current doctoral candidate Danny Kistner.

Firing ranges embody long-term planning of both the community and law enforcement stakeholders who seek to construct a firing range. When designed and constructed correctly, a well-functioning, contemporary firing range will provide law enforcement personnel with a level of training that prepares them to tackle our communities' ever-evolving challenges. This presentation will provide an overview of the fundamental planning surrounding the creation of these distinctive and important facilities. Topics covered will include the architect’s role, programming, site selection, budgeting, safety and operations, environmental issues, and the general design principles that can be incorporated to lead your project to success.

Fire Stations are civic beacons and community fixtures. As older fire stations become antiquated and need replacement with modern-day facilities, the challenge of replacing and integrating new Fire Stations into historic districts comes with stringent design requirements. This case study explores lessons learned from placing new fire stations in historically sensitive contexts. The presenters will explore case studies demonstrating new fire stations located in the historic districts of Venice, Captiva Island, and Boca Grande, Florida. These case studies will show how the fire stations were integrated into the historic architectural vernacular. We will also discuss stakeholder engagement and how consensus was built among neighborhood and civic groups.

Scheduled time for 1-on-One meetings for qualified attendees only. Pre-registration required.

Case Study: Cambridge Fire Headquarters' process to relocate all suppression equipment and firefighters, administration staff (and other departments) to temporary quarters. Options for temporary quarters, and how cities, towns, and departments might consider all their options and how to maximize what is available, how to inventively think about the options, and then specifically how to implement them. Examples would include Cambridge, our work with FDNY, our work in Davenport, Iowa, as well as many others.

Facility planning begins long before a professional is hired. There are budgets to be planned, needs to be assessed and project goals to be set. The role of the owner does not end when the professionals are hired. There are hundreds of decisions to make from the inception of the project to the grand opening and beyond. This presentation will review the process from the owner’s perspective. It will discuss project planning, creating budgets, hiring of professionals, contracts and what the owner should expect during the duration of the project.

Building a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or renovating an existing facility can take years of work. So, what do you do when your current EOC is suddenly shut down? When the City of Anaheim’s Emergency Management team was faced with this question, the solution was relocating to a temporary site for one to two years until a permanent location is available. This presentation will review the challenges associated with the sudden closure of an EOC, as well as the strategies and lessons learned on modifying an existing space to accommodate and support safe emergency operations.

Break for attendees & exhibitors

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With the increasing understanding of cancer risk to firefighters, the importance of designing decon laundry facilities that are compliant with NFPA 1851 guidelines as well as emerging ideas that have not yet become incorporated into industry standards becomes a critical part of the design discussion. There is hardly a new station that does not have a washer/extractor. This presentation is based on the idea that there is more to a proper decon/laundry than simply having a washer/extractor. Using 3-D and “walk-through” models, you will see a variety of facilities that treat decon as a flow-through process moving from dirty to clean. The models range in scale from large central stations to small substations to renovations where the process needs to be “shoehorned” in.

Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Area 

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The global market is beginning to shift to electric vehicles, net-zero buildings, technology-heavy systems and many other forward-thinking ideas for a world responding to climate change and advanced IT. We will use Fire Stations to illustrate these trends; but Police, Public Safety, and EMS are experiencing these same trends. These future projects will be dealing with local codes and ordinances for proper fire separation and fire suppression systems; how will we accommodate battery storage and biometrics. Will drones and robots become common apparatus? Will biometrics become the new standard for measuring health and well-being of responders? How can we begin to incorporate these ideas and equipment into new fire station designs and retrofit existing fire stations to be prepared for the future and what could these futuristic stations look like?

When it comes to building a new facility, early planning with the client, sustainability costpayback analysis, and thorough programming are essential. The Lawrence Police Headquarters serves as a prime example of how taking this approach can stretch your budget further than originally anticipated. Hoefer Welker created a program for the future, focusing on what the facility required today, tomorrow, and over the next 25 years. By doing so, they were able to build over one-third more scope than initially thought possible. This kind of strategic planning, where today’s decisions have a long-lasting impact, ensures that the facility can adapt and expand in the future without requiring costly renovations or rebuilding. A thoughtful approach like this truly maximizes your investment and takes advantage of every dollar.

Glendale Regional Training Center

The Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC) and Emergency Operation Center (EOC) were completed in 2007 and designed by LEA-Architects LLC. The 77-acre, 130,800 sq. ft. project area, is a regional public safety training campus and serves several Arizona cities. The facility features numerous classrooms and offices, as well as training buildings, a simulated fire station and police/fire training props. The Law Enforcement portion included fire ranges, range buildings and emergency vehicle training tracks. The Emergency Operation Center is located on the lower level of the building.

The GRPSTC, built on a blighted rock-quarry site, next to the city landfill, went from a blank sheet of paper to a ribbon cutting in only 11 months. The facility protects the NFL stadium with over 2 million valley visitors, including fans of three Super Bowls.

Plans to upgrade the Law Enforcement portion of the building will include a tactical village and expanding and upgrading the range and targeting system. Recently, there has been an increase in helicopters using the facility and creating the need for additional safety guidelines. More parking space is part of the upgrade plans and their wish list includes more classroom spaces.

Tour will be offered to a limited number of registered attendees. Click here for registration link and more details.

Avondale Station #175

The Avondale Fire and Medical Station No. 175, completed on May 1, 2022, is centrally located in the city of Avondale. Designed by Perlman Architects, the project sits on 2.98 acres and was built during the COVID pandemic in less than a year.

The 17,000 SF single-story station consists of three bays and includes ten gender-neutral dormitories, BC and BSO quarters, firefighters and captains’ offices, a training/community room, and decontamination showers. This station is connected to the City of Phoenix Dispatch Network, requiring the Willmeng Construction team to coordinate closely with the dispatch network, the City of Avondale, U.S. Dispatch Corp., and the electrical contractor.

On-site improvements included an above-ground generator, a public art area, a secure patio, a fitness patio with a synthetic lawn, and secure parking. The site was selected because the city owns the parcel, and an existing traffic signal could be converted to provide a safe emergency response. It was also a prime site due to the call volume in the growing area. The site was conveniently large enough to provide a temporary fire station and housing while the new station was constructed.

Surprise Station #304

The Surprise Fire-Medical Department’s Station 304 was completed in November 2020. Designed by Perlman Architects, the station is located on 4.8 acres in north Surprise. This project was designed to minimize the building’s footprint and to provide space for a future helipad.

Station 304 is 20,824 square feet with five drive-through bays and a single Battalion Chief Bay. The facility includes 14 dorm rooms, 4 bathrooms, a small training room, an exam room, a decontamination core, and full Battalion Chief Quarters. Focused on minimizing the migration of contaminants into the station’s living area, the design utilizes the “hot zone” strategy. Spaces are organized according to their level of exposure to contaminants and/or carcinogens.

Built by Willmeng Construction, the building envelope is a combination of CMU and ICF with a block veneer. The use of these materials provides durability, insulation, and sound absorption. Sound attenuation is a critical aspect of the design, as this site is located directly below the Luke Air Force Base flight path. The overall design strategies aim to increase the health and well-being of the first responders, including outdoor spaces, natural daylighting, single-use gender-neutral dorm rooms and bathrooms.

Tour will be offered to a limited number of registered attendees. Click here for registration link and more details.

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