Smarter fire station design: 6 takeaways from Wold’s work nationwide

Ask someone to picture a fire station, and they’ll likely imagine a few things: a big red truck, a sliding pole, maybe even a Dalmatian. The reality is far more technical and demanding than most people realize. Today’s fire stations are 24/7 operations centers, training grounds and second homes.

As departments take on more complex responsibilities and communities grow, stations have to do more than house equipment. They must support firefighter health and well-being, accommodate evolving service demands and foster community trust. That looks different depending on the department. Wold Architects & Engineers works with clients representing the full range of staffing models, including full-time, hybrid and volunteer-based, and adapts each facility’s design to match local needs. Each brings specific criteria, and each must be viewed through the lens of the future, enabling the facilities to easily adapt as the community changes.

In this blog, we’re breaking down best practices for smarter station design and sharing how we help departments across the country plan for long-term performance, safety and service.

1. Balance rapid response with support spaces
   
   Modern fire station design starts with one goal: enabling rapid, efficient response. While stations have always operated 24/7, today’s facilities must do more, and how they do it matters.
   
   Departments are integrating more space for training, decontamination and firefighter wellness, but these additions must be balanced with response-time performance. Purposeful zoning, clear circulation and strategic adjacencies ensure stations are not only safer and more supportive, but still built to be agile.
   
   Wold helps departments navigate these complex design decisions, especially when weighing the challenges of reinvesting in outdated layouts versus starting fresh. Our goal is to meet operational needs without compromise.
   
   At the City of Minnetonka Public Safety Facility, for example, Wold designed a lounge area that allows crews to decompress and prepare for the next call while still being positioned for a rapid turnout. Similarly, the new City of St. Paul Fire Station No. 7 features separated gear storage areas, decontamination showers and gear washing and maintenance spaces. These upgrades reduce contamination risks and improve long-term safety without interfering with the department’s ability to respond quickly.
   
2. As demand for service grows, so does the need for space
   
   As communities grow, so does the demand for service. This often leads to a higher volume and complexity of calls, which in turn increases the need for additional apparatus, flexible training areas and support spaces for wellness and safety.
   
   Even if the number of first responders stays steady, these expanded responsibilities typically exceed what legacy facilities were designed to support. Wold works with fire leadership to right-size facilities, rethink adjacencies and determine whether reinvestment or replacement is the better long-term solution.
   
3. Station design impacts long-term health and resilience
   
   Full-time firefighters live at the station for long shifts and need spaces that support their physical and mental well-being. Design decisions like increased natural light, durable residential-style finishes, fitness rooms and communal kitchens are functional investments in long-term resilience and health.
   
   Wold’s design of City of Crystal Lake’s Fire Station No. 1, included a fully renovated kitchen inspired by firefighters’ spaces at home. The new kitchen layout and interior design encourages camaraderie during mealtimes and supports a healthy lifestyle. In the Village of Schaumburg’s Fire Station No. 54, similar upgrades were made to the kitchen and dining areas, providing firefighters with durable, functional finishes that can withstand the rigors of station life while still offering comfort during extended shifts. These improvements are reminders that that resilience is not just about the building. It’s about the people inside it.
   
4. Stations should reflect the communities they serve
   
   No two communities are alike, and neither are their stations. Neighborhood culture, staffing model, call volume, apparatus size and response radius all inform the design. From pitched roofs in residential areas to using reclaimed materials from the site, thoughtful design helps stations blend in and build trust.
   
   For example, the new City of Hendersonville Fire Station No. 7 was designed to both complement its surrounding neighborhood and serve as a visible investment in public safety. The building’s exterior features a gabled roof, brick, shingles, vertical fiber cement board and wood to mimic a nearby barn and homes. Inside, spaces are tailored to the department’s staffing model and call demands. By reflecting local character, the station reinforces trust and strengthens ties between first responders and the community they serve.
   
5. Small sites can still support smart, scalable design
   
   Multi-story stations can be a smart solution for municipalities working with limited land. However, this design comes with trade-offs in circulation and adjacency. Wold works with clients to weigh these factors and tailor designs that fit both the site and operational flow.
   
   Hendersonville Fire Station No. 7 was built on a constrained site and makes efficient use of its footprint with carefully considered adjacencies to ensure crews can move quickly while still benefiting from the wellness and support features included in the design. This balance allows the station to function effectively today while offering scalability for future needs.
   
6. Inclusive design supports every member of the crew
   
   Today’s departments are more diverse than ever, and station design needs to reflect that. Inclusive facilities, including private bunks, gender-neutral restrooms and locker layouts, help create a safe, respectful environment for everyone on the team. These features are especially important for recruitment, retention and equity.
   
   In Schaumburg’s Fire Station No. 54, renovated showers and locker rooms were designed with inclusivity and privacy in mind, ensuring every crew member feels comfortable. Similarly, the City of Mt. Juliet’s Fire Station No. 2 includes individual sleeping units that respect personal space while still supporting the team-oriented nature of station life. These design choices send a powerful message: every firefighter belongs here.

Design for today’s demands with a partner who knows them

Modern fire stations look and operate differently than those of the past, and Wold is reimagining them to meet today’s realities. Firefighter health, safety and performance are at the core of these designs.

Municipalities that understand what their responders and communities need can plan smarter, invest wisely and create stations that support those on the front lines.

Wold’s team brings decades of experience designing responsive, efficient and human-centered stations. Whether you’re planning a new facility or renovating an aging station, we’re here to help you get it right. Let’s talk about how Wold can help you design for today’s firefighters and tomorrow’s needs.