Architects present conceptual design for Shenandoah County Fire & Rescue training facility

Mather and Daly Architects presented a conceptual design for a new Shenandoah County Fire & Rescue training facility at the county landfill site, saying the proposal responds to an undersized, deteriorating existing training building and the department’s increased training needs. County Administrator Evan Vass said the project “has spanned at least six fiscal years” and stressed that "this is a training facility and not an active response station."

The architects described the existing site as containing aged sheds, trailers and a double-wide training structure in poor condition. The proposed design includes an apparatus bay intended to house three apparatus deep (the architects described the bay as about 92 feet deep and roughly 80 feet wide) with drive-through doors front and back, secure lobby, main classrooms, breakout rooms, gear storage, a physical training room and staff offices. The team said the apparatus bay would use a preengineered structure to limit costs and noted parking and large-vehicle maneuvering were factored into the site plan.

Vice Chairman Dennis Morris asked how the number of parking spaces was determined; the architects responded that the count was oriented around anticipated training days and department needs. The presentation noted potential cost drivers and constraints: converting storage into habitable bunkrooms would require sprinkler systems and fire-rated walls, and the site is not on a public water system — each factor adds complexity and cost. Supervisor Mark Dotson suggested adding public meeting space in the building; the architects said adding a secured public access point could accommodate community uses while preserving fire-and-rescue safety areas.

The Board did not take formal action on the concept at the meeting; the presentation provided direction for staff and the architects to refine cost and utility questions before returning with next steps.