City of Indianapolis , Fire Station No. 7 – This station, designed by AXIS Architecture + Interiors, features glass overhead doors with windows that lighten the masonry facades, flood apparatus bays with natural light, and create transparency and illumination at night. Remaining facades include textured masonry units, composite metal panels, and glass storefronts. Photo Courtesy of AXIS Architecture + Interiors.

Tips Courtesy of the Fire Industry Education Resource Organization (F.I.E.R.O.)

The following are five station design tips compiled by members of F.I.E.R.O. based on its jurors’ years of experience in designing fire stations as well as judging station designs for F.I.E.R.O.’s Fire Station Design Symposium awards entries.

1. Apparatus bay door opening widths should never be less than 14 feet wide and 14 feet high.
2. Parking areas for fire stations are never planned well. Architects should always have enough room for wide (10 feet), deep (16 feet) stalls and circulation isles at least 25 feet wide.
3. Avoid lighting maintenance headaches.
4. Front doors to stations should be obvious, up front, and next to the flag pole and public parking. When Mrs. Smith needs a firefighter’s attention quickly, don't force her to search for help.
5. Firefighters are very traditional and collect memorabilia including many photographs. Each station usually has its own logo and a way it identifies to the community. A typical fire station should have several locations designed for photographs, graphics, and physical memorabilia.