Needham Fire Substation

The new Needham Fire Substation in the vibrant Metro-West community of Newton, MA, is located at an important intersection and is the first public building seen upon entering the town from Route 128. Due to the fire station’s gateway location, KBA worked closely with Town officials to establish the right architectural expression from the beginning of the planning process. The goal was to create a facility that balanced function, massing, and materials to reflect the local character, organization, ambiance, and practical operation of municipal firefighting and rescue facilities. The final design represents a new standard for the town’s municipal building typology, mixing traditional locally-produced materials – brick and concrete, with modern manufactured components such as metal panels, and aluminum framed curtainwalls.  
 
The design team turned the steeply sloped site to its advantage, creating six apparatus bays on two levels. The first-line response vehicles are on the main level and can directly access the intersection. Operations are supported here by a watch room, decontamination, laundry, hydration, turnout gear, and storage rooms. The adjacent lobby hosts a walk-in patient care module and a shared office as well as vertical circulation and atrium, visually connecting with the upper level, where the original NFD brass bell hangs above and is visible to the neighborhood through the upper-level curtainwall.
 
The lower level comprises three double-deep bays, mechanical-electrical support spaces and a two-story mechanic service center for the department. The upper-level firefighter’s living quarters include seven single bunk rooms, showers, toilets, and laundry facilities, It also has a kitchen and dining area with a terrace, study, dayroom, fitness, secondary decontamination area, and the shift officer’s office/bunk.