Fire Station 23 is the most recent expansion by the Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue District. The new station represents the fourth adaptation of a highly successful prototype originally designed by GMA in 2005. The efficiency and durability integrated into the original design continues to function perfectly despite rapidly advancing technology in firefighting techniques and procedures.
Fire Station 23 is the replacement for an outdated existing station and is centrally located in the major business district on South Tamiami Trail. That station previously housed the Fire Prevention Division resulting in a second floor space of unused square footage when that department was relocated to a new headquarter facility. The first floor fire station was obsolete and inadequate for the current needs of a functioning modern facility and the advanced equipment required by the expanding demand for service. By mirroring the original building footprint, site elements and paving were able to be reused significantly reducing site costs.
The 7,325 square foot station is home to nine full time firefighter/EMS personnel and their apparatus. The station provides a homelike, residential feel for these first responders including comfortable spaces for sleeping, dining, relaxing, and agility training. The free flowing relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces invites interaction and promotes camaraderie.
Brick cladding and standing seam metal roofs project a sense of permanence while maintaining a residential feel. Finishes are durable yet still aesthetically pleasing. The station features a structurally hardened core element designed so staff can shelter in-place during extreme weather events and emergency operations.