KBA was engaged to determine the most feasible solution address the needs of the Needham Police and Fire Stations. The question was whether a new facility or renovations to the existing buildings was a more feasible solution to address the need. No major upgrades had been completed at either facility in more than 25 years. Each facility was undersized, lacked security and technology updates, and did not meet numerous state and federal codes including ADA accessibility. The KBA design team along with fire station programming and design consultant Mitchell Associates Architects, completed a space needs assessment to determine the recommended space needs program.
To meet the needs of each department, a combined public safety and new fire sub-station were determined to be the most efficient and preferred concept. Features of the new combined facility include a shared communications/dispatch center, public lobby, and fitness area. The police program has a firing range and a secure prisoner processing and detention area. The fire program includes four drive-thru apparatus bays and living and sleeping quarters. The new fire substation features three drive-thru apparatus bays and living quarters.