Aurora is a rapidly growing city of 150,000 in suburban Chicago. This new facility replaces a 30-year old station and provides a customer service call center for residents to better serve the east end of the city.

The design concept was developed with participation of the fire department and city staff to optimize functionality and gain the economic benefits of a shared facility. This new civic presence on the eastern border of the city enables public safety and other city staff to better serve residents.

The building is organized into two volumes. The first volume is a brick and limestone 1-story mass housing the firefighter living areas, dormitory, fitness room and various support spaces for the fire station.

The second volume consists of two arching roof forms, rising two stories, clad in metal panels and clerestory windows. The light filled spaces under these curving roofs include three apparatus bays, a mezzanine, the community/training room, and public entry vestibule.

The fire station has a technology room that contains a management information system, which stores data and serves as a back-up to the primary system located in the city hall.

Firm: PSA-Dewberry Inc.

Design Team:

James Cross, AIA, Principal in Charge

Larry Hlavacek, AIA, SE, Project Manager

Jonathan Tallman, Job Captain

R.C. Wegman Construction Co., Construction Manager; Terry Bohr, President

Fire Chief: Tim Oelker

Project Area: 19,150 sq. ft.

Total Cost: $5,732,593

Cost per Square Foot: $299

Completion Date: August 2007