The safety of our communities is directly dependent on how well our fire stations support the health and well-being of our first responders.”
Kevin Schaffer AIA, LEED AP, NCARB Principal, OZ Architecture
OZ is committed to quality public safety planning and design. By creating a well-designed environment, we help our first responders respond quickly, perform efficiently, and work safely when an emergency arises.
Over the last 30 years, our Fire Station team has completed master plans, program development, site feasibility studies, research and development, health and safety improvements, sleep studies, budget studies, publications, funding support, test fits, station renovations, and numerous new, award-winning station designs of all scales.
Led by Principal Kevin Schaffer and Associate Principal Eric Becker, a former volunteer firefighter of 11 years, this team continually builds an understanding of modern fire departments beyond just fundamental design trends. As part of our team’s approach in exploration and implementation efforts, we constantly seek improvement to our design, addressing the care and separation of hazardous areas and materials from living spaces, use of onsite props for affordable in-house training opportunities, acoustical separation of sleeping areas, and innovations specific to each department.
Our goal is to create a safe and healthy fire station environment which enhances camaraderie, efficiency, daily operations, and provides the necessary support for all first responders. We promote such environments for all occupants by providing ample recreation spaces; ensuring proper ventilation of apparatus bay and supporting areas; designing adaptable spaces for a variety of uses; and designing stations that tie into the community’s aesthetics.
OZ’s assembled Civic project team has worked together for two decades on fire station design and innovation, in addition to having completed projects in a variety of communities.
Mountain View Fire Rescue
Erie Station No. 15
ERIE, COLORADO
The design of MVFR’s Erie Fire Station No. 15 focused on providing for the needs of a modern firehouse and allaying the concerns of the surrounding residents.
The station is located in a rapidly expanding and desirable residential area in Erie, Colorado. The station was developed as a Community Facility matching the allowed uses on the property. Being good neighbors, the station was located and oriented to mitigate the effects of noise and light intruding into the surrounding area.
The design adapts a proven spatial arrangement with efficient circulation and separation of the Hot, Warm, and Cold zones within the station with safe and efficient movement of apparatus, cars, and pedestrians on the site.
The internal zones and their functions are distinguished by a series of low sloping roofs that reflect the surrounding neighborhood scale and provide daylighting to interior circulation spaces and bays.
South Metro Fire Rescue Station No. 15 will provide better fire service, greater safety, a healthier environment, lower maintenance and energy costs, and a strong community presence.
The facility is designed and detailed to a 75-year material and quality standard assuring many years of productive life. The new station replaces an existing one on the parallelogram-shaped site that barely accommodated the much smaller building. OZ designed a two-story building with three aparatus bays in a unique geometry utilizing every buildable area of the site. We continued the recognizable elements of our newer South Metro stations to make a robust building with a handmolded brick in a Flemish bond with an accent brick color every third vertical course, large red and glass bay doors, a two-story volume, and a “civic” tower giving it a traditional feel.
OZ designed Station No. 15 as a modern structure with the added elements of copious natural light, unique roof forms, and ample welllit interiors. The interiors incorporate best practices for firehouses with spaces dedicated to decontamination, open social spaces, shared and intimate private spaces, fire training areas, and individually controlled sleeping areas to help mitigate the stress of being a first responder and attract and retain staff.
Upper Pine River Fire Protection District Fire Station No. 61 & Community Clinic
BAYFIELD, COLORADO
The Upper Pine River Fire Protection District engaged OZ Architecture to help envision and design a new Joint Public Safety Facility that will include a new fire station and community clinic.
The fire station side of the building includes 4 apparatus bays, decontamination zones, office/ watch room, separated living quarters, fitness center, building support spaces, and a multi-purpose training/ community room. The community clinic includes a waiting area, private exam rooms, office, x-ray room, lab, employee breakroom and an ambulance bay. The paramedic services will enhance standard EMS services provided to the community.
The project intends to anticipate evolving community needs, centralize public safety services, enhance the area’s resilience, and ensure community service for generations.
SIZE
Level 1: 11,460 sf
Mezzanine: 1,350 sf
Penthouse: 350 sf
FEATURES
4 Apparatus Bays / Drive
Through Community Room
Volunteer Firefighter Tribute Hall
Community Health Clinic with Ambulance Transport Bay
Sleeping Quarters
Crew Watch Office
Fitness Room
Kitchen, Dining and Dayroom
Training Apparatus
Decon
AWARDS
FIERO Design Award – Honor (Gold award) for Innovation, 2024
Ems Sleeping Room
Dayroom
Laundry
20. Kitchen / Dining Room
21. Outdoor Dining Patio
22. Fire Fighter Entry
Front Office
Exam Room
Critical Care Room 12. Ambulance
23. Cpt / Bc Sleeping Room
24. Crew Sleeping Room
25. Crew Watch Office
26. Postive Pressure Corridor
27. Mech / Elec Room 28. EMS Storage
Data / It Room 30. Decon Laundry 31. Lockers 32. Decon Bathroom
33. Apparatus Bay 34. Shop Maint / Equip Storage 35. SCBA Storage & Fill Station 36. Decon Gear Wash 37. Bunker Gear 38. Hose Tower
Fitness
Outdoor Fitness Patio
Denver Fire Department Station No. 40
DENVER, COLORADO
Denver voters approved a Capital Improvement Bond project for DFD Fire Station No. 40 to satisfy the impending growth around the airport.
The program called for three bays housing shifts of up to eight firefighters and, new to Denver, accommodations for two EMTs. Two initial challenges faced OZ: the budget was established five years earlier while we were tasked to maintain the scope and add a more robust decontamination area. Secondly, limited site access was restricted to 56th Ave, the main road. The existing median could not be reconstructed to the required deceleration and stacking requirements to allow station access.
Working with city engineers, OZ located the entrance and egress as close to Telluride, the cross street, as possible. This allowed the apparatus to exit the opposite lane a short distance along 56th, keeping the functioning median. Building efficiency was maximized with a compact footprint in a simple articulated shape to meet the scope and approve the budget. Brick masonry was selected for its economic value and robustness, with the ability to add visual interest through the patterning and detailing of the walls. The health and welfare of the users were a significant concern, having the station functions located based on a separation of red, yellow, and green zones with an innovative central decontamination area.
Further health benefits include stress-reducing elements of a large, partially covered outdoor court off-the-day room for grilling and socializing, a private room for personal time, and copious natural light in the living, offices, and apparatus bays areas.
*EMS services included
SIZE
17,244 sf
FEATURES
3 Apparatus Bays, Drive Thru Bays
10 Sleeping Quarters
Office Space
Fitness Room
Kitchen and Dining
Private Courtyard
Decon
Hose Tower
Big Sky Fire Department Station No. 3
BIG SKY, MONTANA
Big Sky Fire Department Station plays an important function not only as a fire rescue station but as a gateway to the Spanish Peaks development in Big Sky Montana.
The design expresses a Civic presence and takes on a holistic approach focusing on efficiency, resiliency, permanence, and aesthetics within a budget. Firefighters’ health and wellbeing informs the building layout providing healthy, efficient, and comfortable spaces. The exterior shows a respect for the natural surroundings and terrain using natural materials, hues, and forms associated with the nearby community in conjunction with the added need for fire mitigation efforts in the Mountainous West.
Class A fire resistant materials, such as stone, fire treated wood, mass timber and standing seam metal roofing are utilized for their fire resistance. Mechanical and ventilation systems and building wall cavity vents are designed to resist fire and ember intrusion. Wildlife fire mitigation extends to the site via the landscape design. The design offers to the public an attractive example of fire-resistant plants, materials, and layouts appropriate within the Wildland Urban Interface.
SIZE
Level 1: 9,370 sf
Level 2: 3,980 sf
Total: 13,350 sf
FEATURES
3 Double Loading Apparatus Bays
5 Sleeping Quarters
Kitchen, Dining, And Dayroom
Training / Community Room
Fitness Room
Decon Area
Wildland Urban Interface
Landscaping
Sustainable Strategies
LEVEL 2
South Metro Fire Rescue Station No. 20
HIGHLANDS RANCH, COLORADO
For South Metro Fire Rescue’s Station No. 20, OZ created an award-winning design that echoes the historic character of the neighboring Highlands Ranch Mansion and Park while prioritizing the health, safety, and wellbeing of firefighters and first responders at the station.
The design concept was informed by the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District’s desire to use the eclectic, historic ranch as a model for a new barn-like structure. Strong indoor/outdoor connections, daylighting strategies, and residential-inspired design elements further support occupant mental and physical health.
The structure features three apparatus bays housing six crews, supported by living, sleeping, office, training, and operational support spaces. A compact layout offers clear and direct access to the bays, reducing turnout times and improving building efficiency. Efficiency was also achieved through the mechanical and electrical systems giving each bedroom independent heating and cooling controls and an energy-saving envelope for the entire station.
SIZE
10,400 sf
COMPLETION
2021 FEATURES
3 Apparatus Bays
Sleeping Quarters
Office Space
Fitness Room
Kitchen and Dining
Training Apparatus
High Efficiency Envelope
High Efficiency VRF Mechanical System
Decon
AWARDS
FIERO Design Award – Merit (Silver award) for New Construction, 2024
Firehouse Station Design Award – Bronze, Career 2, 2021
MEZZANINE
Mountain View Fire Rescue Boulder Station No. 2
BOULDER, COLORADO
Station No. 2 is located in an area that includes a wide variety of outdoor activities, and contains many square miles of open space and urban development.
The department responds to calls ranging from rock climbing accidents to wildfires, along with the typical urban incidents. The new station replaced the department’s existing 1970s station on the site. Due to the site size, various setbacks and other issues, the station had to be designed to fit within these constraints.
This also dictated a 2-story station design to allow for the needed program. *EMS services included
SIZE
15,000 sf
2013
6 Dorms
4 Apparatus Bays
Support Spaces
Crew office / Study
Fitness Room
Kitchen Connected to Day Room and Training Room
Decon
AWARDS
Firehouse Station Design Award, 2013
Denver Fire Department Northfield Station No. 39
DENVER, COLORADO
Denver Fire sought a design that recognized the many roles a station must play in a community—from a functioning workplace for first responders and their equipment to a home away from home and place of civic pride.
Northfield Station No. 39 was developed in response to the growing Northfield community located in the Central Park community. Traditional exterior design and materials were used to reinforce the legacy of Denver Fire Department. Careful attention was paid to plan and detailing of the interior to create a light-filled living area that supported firefighter health and wellbeing while still ensuring efficient access to the apparatus at all times.
As a public building expected to last 50-100 years, operations and maintenance were key considerations to support resiliency. Additionally, the department had ambitious sustainability goals and was designed to LEED Gold standards.
SIZE
14,300 sf COMPLETION
2020 FEATURES
Daylighting Spine
Apparatus Storage
Public Zone with Meeting Room
Private Zone
Staff Residences
Watch Office
Fitness Room
Central Kitchen
LEED Gold Certified
AWARDS
Firehouse Station Design Award
– Career 2 Notable, 2020
South Metro Fire Rescue Station No. 31
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLORADO
After South Metro Fire acquired a 1970s station in Greenwood Village, they brought OZ on to design a modern new station that would better support their ability to serve the community.
Given the station’s location on a tight site in an established residential neighborhood, the team studied several site configurations to find a solution that would provide through access without disrupting the surrounding neighbors. The station holds the important corner of East Orchard Road and Havana Street with trucks entering off Havana and exiting to Orchard. The station living area was designed with two stories to maximize open, green space while concentrating building mass away from neighbors.
The building forms and materials are intentionally simple and the scale is carefully designed to more closely mirror that of the surrounding homes. Two main hipped roofs float via a clerestory over a brick base, breaking up the mass and softening the height. The clerestory design provides ample daylight to the living quarters and apparatus bays while reducing energy needs.
APPARATUS BAY SUPPORT BUILDING SUPPORT CIRCULATION LIVING QUARTERS
Mountain View Fire Rescue Eldorado Station No. 9
BOULDER, COLORADO
Nestled in a rural valley east of Eldorado Springs, Mountain View Fire Rescue
Eldorado Station No. 9 is a sophisticated fire station surrounded by Boulder’s open space and iconic Flatiron formations.
It’s design is informed by the unique characteristics of the geography, just a few miles away from the popular Eldorado Canyon State Park. OZ designed the fire station to reflect the beauty and ranching history of the area while providing enhanced access to lifesaving amenities for the community. It features state-of-the-art apparatus storage, living quarters, and administration offices housed in a traditional mountain ranch design. A smaller outbuilding reduces the apparatus bay size while still providing the necessary space to house specialty rescue equipment, including a snow cat.
It is critical that crews housed in this station can quickly reach nearby Eldorado Canyon State Park to perform technical rescue of fallen climbers and hikers. A helipad adjacent to the station reduces medical response and evacuation times in this remote area, providing a safe and central landing location for specialized emergency response. *EMS services included
SIZE
10,800 sf
Apparatus Storage
Helipad Design
Public Zone with Meeting Room
Private Zone
Staff Residences
Decon
South Metro Fire Rescue Station No. 32
CENTENNIAL, COLORADO
OZ designed this station to meet the current and future needs of the department and the community, improving site circulation and crew response.
South Metro Fire Rescue No. 32 combined two existing lots, including the existing Station No. 32. The original fire station was outdated and undersized to adequately serve the growing Centennial community. Due to the restricted site size, the design is a two-story building with a partial basement level that served to reduce the building footprint while providing comfortable firefighter living quarters.
The aesthetic goal of the new station was to create a civic and traditional structure which visually relates to Station No. 31. The proximity of the two stations with related designs marked the start of achieving a district identity. The two-story design further allowed the building to be placed within the required property setbacks while maximizing open space, site circulation and landscaping, ensuring the station added to the fabric of the neighborhood.
*EMS services included
SIZE
15,000 sf
COMPLETION
2019
FEATURES
12 Dorms
4 Apparatus bays + Mezzanine
Support Spaces
Watch Office
Training Room
Crew Study
Fitness Room
Central Kitchen Connected to Day Room
Decon
AWARDS
Firehouse Station Design Award
– Career 1 Notable, 2019
Denver Fire Department Lowry Station No. 18
DENVER, COLORADO
Denver Fire sought a design that would be a flagship of the latest fire technologies and could serve multiple functions.
Creating a new neighborhood in Denver’s Lowry redevelopment area presented OZ with the opportunity to design an iconic community support building. Denver Fire Department Lowry Station No. 18 anchors a key intersection in the former US Air Force Base that has been redeveloped into a mixed-use, sustainable community.
The Fire Department requested a traditional architectural style accommodating numerous training opportunities for the firefighters on site. They received a flagship building with the latest fire technologies, comfortable accommodations, and gathering spaces.
SIZE
13,779 sf COMPLETION 2014
FEATURES
Apparatus Storage
Helipad Design
Public Zone with Meeting Room
Private Zone
Staff Residences
LEED Gold Certified
ON-THE-BOARDS & CONCEPTS
Fire station design requires innovation— the result of collaboration, communication and creativity. OZ has been a leader in fire facility design for over a decade. We produce progressive, responsible, and timeless designs.
Our full range of services is intended to facilitate and accomplish the successful realization of a quality fire station facility.
Our analysis of site design, neighborhood context, sustainable design opportunities, operational efficiency, and the public process will prove invaluable during the design phase. Our technical expertise and trusted consultant teams provide accurate analysis, cost estimates, and system comparisons to minimize life-cycle costs and maintenance.
OZ’s commitment to innovative and sustainable design is evident during the entire process and our expertise in construction administration ensures a high level of quality and efficiency.
