The Worcester (Mass.) Fire Department’s Franklin Street Station is located on the site of the Cold Storage Warehouse where six Worcester firefighters died on Dec. 3, 1999. The previous building’s owner donated the land.

Designed by the Maguire Group, the brick-and-cast-stone exterior combines Worcester’s traditional detailed masonry buildings and high standards for civic architecture. The 15,022-square-foot, state-of-the-art station houses four companies and replaces two smaller, older stations.

The first floor includes three drive-through apparatus bays, a watch room and workout room. The bays include trench drains, acoustic ceiling baffles, a Plymovent exhaust-removal system and 16 feet of headroom.

The second-floor living quarters includes bunks for 15 firefighters and four officers, spacious dining and day rooms, a computer room, built-in cabinets and GearGrid storage racks. The large bunkroom has 5-foot-high walls between bunks and officers have private bunks. The kitchen is equipped with high-end commercial and professional-grade fixtures and appliances.

A special memorial is located alongside the new station, designed by artist Brian Hanlon in collaboration with Worcester Fire Chief Gerard Dio. The firefighters raised money to cover the costs for both the public monument and a more private display inside the building — six bricks from the original building were laid out in a cross pattern within the facility, the exact location only known to a few other firefighters. Firefighter Sean O'Neil designed the memorial layout, poured the concrete base, and set the granite statue and the other components Franklin Street firefighters laid the brick pavers.