Thursday, May 23  |  1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The option to visit one of two tours will be offered to a limited number of registered attendees. The tours will leave the Renaissance at 1 p.m. and return to the hotel by 4 p.m.

Surprise Fire-Medical Department’s 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.

Avondale Fire and Medical Station No. 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. 

Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC) and Emergency Operation Center (EOC)

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.