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Boerne presents design and estimated $20M probable cost for new Fire Station No. 2
Summary
City staff and the fire department presented an 11-month design for Fire Station No. 2 featuring training facilities, community meeting space with library kiosk, decontamination and sustainability features; conceptual probable cost is roughly $20 million (building ~$15.5M, site ~$3.5M).
City staff and the Boerne Fire Department presented a project design update on June 24 for Fire Station No. 2 in the Esperanza area, including conceptual drawings, program elements and a preliminary cost estimate.
Danny (city project lead) and Fire Chief Manny (presenting for the department) described an 11-month design effort led by Hafer Welker (architect) and a cross-departmental committee. The design emphasizes three guiding principles: future-proofing, functionality and culture. Features include separated “dirty” and “clean” areas for decontamination and gear laundering; a community-facing meeting room and library kiosk; training-oriented exterior façades and rooftop training features; a museum room for a historic 1929 American LaFrance fire truck; fitness spaces with indoor/outdoor artificial turf; and built-in provisions for one-water initiatives, bioswales and sustainability elements.
Chief Manny summarized program and capacity: the station includes nine dorm rooms (to provide capacity as staffing grows) with an initial planned crew of four personnel assigned to the new station at opening; the department intends operational staffing to adapt with call volume and apparatus needs. The design incorporates training elements across the “dirty” side of the building, anchor points for rappelling and simulated windows for victim removal and rescue practice.
The architect and staff presented conceptual costs: a building probable cost of just over $15.5 million, site probable cost approximately $3.5 million, and contingencies/fees bringing the current conceptual estimate to about $20 million. Staff noted site unknowns — topography and subsurface rock — that contribute to the site-cost estimate and that final costs will be refined when Esperanza Boulevard redesign and detailed civil work are complete. The donated land reduces land acquisition cost; site-work and infrastructure (cut/fill, access turns on Esperanza Boulevard) remain to be finalized.
Next steps identified by staff include completing the Esperanza Boulevard design, finishing civil and site cost estimates, finalizing construction documents and soliciting bids for a general contractor. Staff projected an updated timeline and said they would bring cost refinements and a procurement schedule back to council.
Why it matters: The new station is intended to expand fire-department capacity, add training infrastructure and provide a community meeting space. The presentation lays out program needs, shared community uses and a conceptual budget for council consideration and future budget/contract decisions.
