Peekskill Fire Headquarters Study; Peekskill, Ny
Architect of Record: Mitchell Associates Architects

Winner of a 2012 Recognition Award from F.I.E.R.O.

Peekskill is a blended department with 24 career firefighters and as many as 107 active volunteers in 6 companies working out of five stations. The oldest still operating company was founded in 1826, and all of the operating companies were founded prior to the 1920’s. The Department covers 4.3 square miles, with a population of 23,600 people, and responds to more than 700 calls per year.

Of the five stations, two are from the 19th century, and one is a metal pole building.  The newest building is nearly fifty years old.  All are significantly deficient, with operational and firefighter health issues.

After a false start at designing a new headquarters in 1996, the project sat for 10 years.  Starting in 2007, a series of studies were performed:

  • Report #1, 2007 – Determine needs and evaluate the effectiveness of consolidating operations into a single headquarters.
  • Report #2, 2008 – Alternative site evaluation based on response time mapping
  • Report #3, 2009 – Detailed evaluation of the condition of the existing stations
  • Report #4, 2010 – Evaluation of possible renovations and additions to the existing stations that could meet the consolidation goals of the prior studies, including:
      • Response time
      • All programmatic requirements
      • All codes and guidelines
      • All health and safety issues
      • Building  longevity, maintainability and energy efficiency

 

The outcome of all of the studies was a recommendation to build an architecturally prominent new central fire station on the corner of Main and Broad streets, one of the most prominent locations in the city, where it would serves as a gateway to the city and a clear sign of the city’s confidence in the future.  The building would also serve as a location for public meetings, and would house a fire museum highlighting the 190 years of service to the community, featuring beautifully restored 19th century apparatus.

Included here is Report #1.



Award Winner