Santa Rita Fire Station #152

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When the Santa Rita Fire District started contemplating how to bring its 40-year-old Station 152 into compliance with today’s design standards, it knew it needed to contemplate all the possible options. Shive-Hattery, who had built several other district stations, worked with the fire district and the community on not one, but several feasibility studies. After deliberating on remodeling the existing station, the fire district elected to purchase land across the street to construct a brand-new 9,360 SF station.

Prior to this purchase the land was intended to become a 3-story assistant living facility and this caused concern from the neighborhood because the large complex would change the desert eco system as well as eliminate direct views to the Santa Rita mountains to the east. Residents were thrilled when the land was purchased by the district and even happier to learn the new station would be carefully positioned at the lowest elevation in the lot to maintain the views of the mountains.

Station 152 was created by way of a bond initiative, the first one in 45 years for the district. The goal of the station was to provide an inclusive space for this full-time crew that is non-gendered, ADA compliant, complies with the latest National Fire Protection and International Building Code standards, and promotes the district’s cancer free design initiatives.

The Santa Rita Fire District provides emergency services to both suburban and rural areas of more than 35,000 constituents. Green Valley is located about 20 miles south of the Greater Tucson vicinity which historically, has been an active senior citizen community.

The project was bid during COVID, and construction prices and equipment lead times were at an all-time high. While Shive-Hattery was able to value engineer the station to give the district what they needed, unfortunately that meant getting a little less of what was on their wish list. The original design had up to 6 bays with a large meeting room space. Sacrifices had to be made to use tax dollars appropriately and build a station that they could afford. But there is additional capacity on the lot, meaning the station has room to expand in the future.

The new Station 152 is equipped with 3-drive-thru bays with a decontamination alcove, seven bunk rooms, three non-gendered shower rooms, cooking and eating spaces, dayroom, offices, and a turnout room. Special features of this fire station: living areas (dayroom and kitchen) are angled to take in the views of the Santa Rita Mountain range. All mechanical equipment is roof mounted and hidden behind a mechanical screen wall. The station design concept was taken from the residential home design across the street featuring large vertical masonry walls with a single pitched sloped roof. Shive-Hattery was very cognizant of the local architectural style of the community of Green Valley.