Select Board awards $13.55 million contract to renovate Fire Stations 1 and 4; project aims for gender-equitable, all-electric upgrades

The Select Board on Tuesday approved a $13,549,978 construction contract with Track Builders to renovate Fire Stations 1 and 4. The package passed on a unanimous board vote after staff and architects described the design goals, bidding process and budget context.

Nut graf: The project’s stated priorities are to improve firefighter health and safety by separating apparatus bays and turnout gear from living spaces, add private changing/bathroom facilities to support gender equity, preserve historic exteriors, and move toward all-electric mechanical systems while meeting code requirements for a diesel back-up generator.

What was approved The Select Board voted to award the construction contract (base bid plus Alternate 2 — site screen wall for the generator) for $13,549,978. Chair and members recorded aye votes during roll-call. Staff said the contract follows a two-stage procurement process in which an RFQ qualified contractors and then a restricted RFP produced the final bids; Track Builders was the low responsive bidder after four general contractors advanced.

Design and scope highlights Architects from Cambridge Seven described the interior-focused work: sealed apparatus bays, dedicated turnout/gear rooms, decontamination spaces, communal day rooms and bunk rooms designed to foster company culture, and private bathing/changing stalls so firefighters of any gender can change without exposing private spaces. The project includes new mechanical, electrical and fire protection systems and is being designed to an all-electric standard where practical. The architectural team noted three major technical takeaways for electrifying historic buildings: transformer size, generator size and smaller interior mechanical footprints.

Costs, alternates and contingency The board heard that the contract amount does not include project contingency or certain owner-procured services; the administration said a roughly 10% contingency is included in the larger project authorization from Town Meeting and that OPM, commissioning and other soft costs are tracked separately and will be presented for further approvals as needed. Staff told the board the construction cost came in under earlier, broader project estimates and that the $65 million authorization originally approved by Town Meeting should enable the town to proceed through the next stations, though additional borrowing authorization may be requested to continue the multi-year program.

Union and operational involvement Project staff said they involved Local 950 (firefighters’ union) leadership in design discussions; the union’s vice president was listed as participating in the design team outreach. Select Board members and staff emphasized that operational input and buy-in from firefighters shaped the bunk- and day-room design.

Ending Board members asked for ongoing budget transparency and a regular schedule of updates as construction begins in early summer. Work at both parks and stations is expected to proceed with construction start dates contingent on permitting and contractor scheduling.