Project

City of Beacon Fire Station – 1140 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, New York

The Beacon Fire Station project, commissioned by the City of Beacon and spearheaded by MHCM, began in June 2023. The task involved updating and consolidating the city’s three fire stations – Beacon Engine Company, Mase Hooke & Ladder Company and Lewis Tompkins Hose Company – into a single state-of-the-art facility that serves as both the headquarters and sole fire station for the City of Beacon Fire Department.

MHCM was selected for this project due to the team’s expertise in sustainable construction and its ability to meet the department’s operational and environmental goals. The new fire station, featuring a brick façade, incorporates modern safety systems, ADA compliance, and energy-efficient HVAC solutions, including geothermal heating through 21 geothermal wells.

Under the guidance of Fire Chief Tom Lucchesi, the project prioritizes firefighter health, morale, and camaraderie, as well as public safety, creating a healthier and more sustainable workspace for the department, as well as aligning with the City’s broader environmental goals by reducing energy consumption and minimizing carbon footprint.

Blueprints

MHCM approached the Beacon Fire Station project with a strategy centered on balancing historic preservation and modern innovation. The project began as a complete gut renovation, stripping the fire station down to its steel beams and floors, effectively transforming the structure into what appeared to be an entirely new build.

Located prominently off Wolcott Avenue (Route 9D), the team tackled the challenge of maintaining the building’s essential framework while incorporating modern upgrades to meet the city’s evolving needs. MHCM prioritized goals of sustainability, safety, and functionality, working closely with stakeholders to design a fire station that exceeds the latest standards.

Unique elements, such as the integration of energy-efficient geothermal heating, hot and cold decontamination areas, and a zero-fossil fuel design, set this project apart as a forward-thinking and environmentally responsible structure. Despite the complexities of structural demolition and a tight timeline, the project remained aligned with the City of Beacon’s vision for a resilient and cutting-edge facility.

Nuts & Bolts

The Beacon Fire Station posed a few challenges, including tight timelines and unforeseen holdups that are typical of large-scale renovations, including delays in issuing permits. Stripping the building down to its steel framework required careful planning to navigate structural complexities while keeping the construction on schedule.

Despite these hurdles, MHCM demonstrated exceptional versatility, adaptation and resourcefulness, ensuring steady progress through coordination with stakeholders and proactive problem-solving, allowing the firm to work on other aspects while delays were resolved. The team’s ability to manage setbacks without compromising quality or safety highlights its commitment to delivering on time.

This project underscored the importance of clear communication, flexibility, and careful planning in overcoming obstacles and achieving project goals under demanding conditions. MHCM’s ability to look ahead and identify key issues or conflicts, while utilizing solution-based problem solving, and owning both the general contractor and site contracts, proved a key asset to the success of the project.

Completion

The completion of the new Beacon Fire Station represents a transformative milestone for the City of Beacon and its Fire Department. Officially operational in October 2024, the facility has already enhanced the department’s efficiency and morale, uniting firefighters under one roof for the first time, and significantly improving Beacon’s emergency response capabilities.

Key features like larger apparatus bays with advanced exhaust systems, decontamination areas, and sustainable, energy-efficient systems – including geothermal heating – highlight the fire station’s commitment to safety, health, and environmental responsibility. The all-electric design, excluding the generator, aligns with the city’s sustainability goals.

This impressive fire station not only bolsters public safety but also fosters a healthier, more connected team, ready to serve the community with greater effectiveness and pride.