
The City of Prince George unveiled the concept designs for Fire Hall #1 Wednesday at an event on the site of its future location just off Massey Drive.
Mayor Lyn Hall and members of council also revealed plans for a new access to the YMCA of Northern BC and announced that IDL Projects Ltd. will be the construction manager for the new firehall.
The replacement of Fire Hall #1 follows a referendum in October 2017, during which residents voted nearly 83 per cent in favour of the city borrowing up to $15 million to replace the current firehall, which is more than 60 years old.
The new fire hall will be approximately 50 per cent larger than the current facility, on Seventh Avenue, and will have the capacity to house an Emergency Operations Centre and Fire Operations Communications Centre. The new location is much more central and will increase by 50 per cent the area firefighters will be able to reach within an eight-minute response time.
“Compared to the current firehall which is cramped and inefficient, the new building will feature five, large truck bays and wood in key areas,” said Stuart Rothnie, architect with HCMA Architects and Planning, in a press release. “Together with the fire department and staff from the city and regional district, we’ve developed a facility that will be cost-effective but still prominent and a source of pride for the community.”
Construction will also result in a new access for the YMCA of Northern BC, which will be off Massey across from Masich Place Stadium and via Del Laverdure Way.
In 2018, the city appointed HCMA Architects and Planning of Vancouver and an engineering design team led by L&M Engineering of Prince George to design the replacement Fire Hall #1 at the new location in Carrie Jane Gray Park.