Council reviews preliminary designs for new Fire Station No. 2 emphasizing decontamination suite, community space and solar-ready roof

At its July 15, 2025 meeting, the Superior Common Council heard a presentation of preliminary designs for a replacement Fire Station Number 2 that would move one block west to front on John Avenue between North Seventh and North Eighth streets, officials said. Robert Krizhevsky, the project's principal in charge and the architect on the project, and the city's fire chief presented conceptual floor plans and exterior options and solicited council feedback.

The design team said the building’s primary goals are firefighter physical and mental health, long-term operational capacity and neighborhood fit. "First goal would be firefighter physical and mental health," the fire chief said, noting design features intended for cancer-prevention, rest and recovery, and on-duty nutrition. Krizhevsky described a dedicated decontamination suite for cleaning personal protective equipment and a separate decon hall with lockers and showers so crews do not bring contaminants into dorm areas.

City and design staff said the plan includes a public-facing community room with a small kitchenette, administrative and training spaces that could support other city operations, room for additional staffing, and an IT/fiber hub. The apparatus area is drawn as a drive-through arrangement: crews would exit onto North Eighth Street and return via North Seventh and the alley. Krizhevsky said the layout shows three full apparatus bays and a smaller, half bay suitable for a response pickup or ARV.

Budget and lifecycle considerations were discussed. Krizhevsky said KA completed a feasibility analysis and the preliminary design remains within a roughly $10,000,000 feasibility target; further design development and a contractor estimate will follow. When asked about expected service life, the architect and the fire chief described a design life of "60-plus years," subject to construction choices and future maintenance.

Councilors pressed for operational and material details at the conceptual stage. Councilor Harry asked whether turning radii and apron depth allowed safe exits onto Eighth Street; the architect replied the building is set back to provide required clearance. Councilor Allen asked whether the design meets the department’s wish list; the fire chief said the station is intended to meet current needs while providing space for a future second company if call volumes or staffing grow.

Roofing and solar strategy drew extended discussion. Officials said a flat roof was chosen in part to accommodate ballasted solar panels without penetrations and to reduce visible racking. Krizhevsky and the chief explained that a flat roof can simplify solar installation and avoid many roof penetrations, though standing-seam metal roofs remain an option that carries higher upfront cost and potential snow-slide concerns. The architect noted typical membrane warranties of 20–25 years and said the design team will specify manufacturers and installation standards in later design phases.

Designers described building-level energy considerations including an efficient envelope, a potential geothermal heating option, and space and infrastructure for Level 1 EV charging (480-volt fast charging was mentioned). Krizhevsky said the project is roughly 5 percent complete conceptually; the next steps are detailed design, mechanical/electrical/plumbing descriptions and formal contractor estimates.

Krzhevsky described features intended for community use and emergency response flexibility: a rentable community room operated by key code and deposit, and use as a cooling center during extreme heat events because of the building's air conditioning. The design also includes a mezzanine for low-frequency training, exterior stormwater management as required, and back-of-house storage and shop spaces.

No formal council vote on the design occurred at the meeting. Councilors were invited to submit further suggestions during the upcoming weeks while the design team completes more detailed plans and pricing.

The presentation included conceptual exterior renderings and site plans; councilors and staff will review more detailed drawings and cost estimates in follow-up briefings prior to final approvals.