The Waconia fire station is the culmination of a detailed needs assessment and planning study that redefined how a fast-growing Minnesota community supports its emergency services. The Waconia Fire Department is a paid-on-call department. This new station was designed to support the department’s evolution to a career department. What began as a comprehensive operational and space needs analysis evolved into a state-of-the-art, 31,000-square-foot facility designed for both performance and longevity. Through the case study of the Waconia fire station, attendees will gain insight into the critical link between pre-design planning and architectural execution. We’ll cover how data, stakeholder engagement and design innovation merged to create a high-performing station that reflects Waconia’s civic pride and operational needs for decades to come.