Architects outline phased plan to replace Brandon Fire Station 11, flag structural unknowns and hurricane-hardening needs

Fleischmann Garcia Architects presented a conceptual design, phasing plan and cost guidance Tuesday during a publicly noticed procurement presentation for PS200191, the architectural/engineering services procurement for replacement of Brandon Fire Station 11 in Hillsborough County.

The presentation emphasized that the station must remain fully operational while work proceeds on a constrained suburban site, that parts of the existing apparatus bay built in 1978 may require substantial hurricane‑hardening to meet current Florida Building Code wind loads, and that converting the bay to drive‑through operation will affect the site plan and require acquisition or use of adjacent lots.

The firm’s fire‑station specialist, John Kelly of Fleischmann Garcia Architecture, said the existing 3,360‑square‑foot apparatus bay dates to 1978 and was designed to earlier wind standards. “In 1978, the design wind velocity was probably 110 miles an hour. It's now 154 miles an hour under the Florida building code currently in effect,” Kelly said. He said the county’s project team must investigate whether existing…