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Sugar House Journal

Sugar House’s new, energy-efficient fire station opens

Oct 15, 2018 14h41 ● By Jana Klopsch

The mayor and members of Salt Lake City Fire Department and City Council attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 10 for new Station No. 3. (Courtesy Dan Weist/Salt Lake City Council)

By Spencer W. Belnap | [email protected] 

Sugar House has a brand new, environmentally-friendly fire station—Station No. 3 located at 2425 S. 900 East. On Oct. 10, Salt Lake City Fire Department, construction developers and partners, the mayor and city council members were all on hand to dedicate the new building. Tours were provided for the public throughout the day and offered the chance for neighbors to explore the new space. 

“The new station three is a great addition to Sugar House, and its energy efficiency is a marvel,” said City Council Member for District 7 Amy Fowler. “I also love the local artwork inside that represents some of the familiar signs in our neighborhoods.”

The grand opening day bustled with excitement and plenty of kids tested out the fire truck whistles and basketball hoop outside. There were free hot dogs, soda, and snacks and stickers and hats for the children. Fire department personnel led guided tours, but also allowed folks to meander around the building. Adults asked firefighters about home safety tips, and thanked them for their service. 

Salt Lake City and the Fire Department are committed to sustainability, and the new fire station is a prime example of their commitments made under the Climate Positive SLC plan. Station No. 3 is the second fire station in the nation to be built as a Net Zero energy building. With its array of more than 300 solar panels, the building will generate its own power. It also features triple-pane glazing throughout, and a high-performance envelope to better protect against the elements and whatever exterior conditions may arise. The energy efficiency measures will contribute to a reduction of 220 tons of coal burning every year. Over 80 percent of all construction waste materials was recycled and diverted from landfills. All these details and more combine to ensure the building will become LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

“This fire station is a tangible example of how a sustainable city designs and builds infrastructure,” Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said in a news release. “Station three represents what is possible today, with existing cost-effective technologies.” 

The new building was constructed in just over a year, with Blalock and Partners being the local designer in the project. They expanded the station to 18,100 square feet and two stories, and included a three-bay garage that is over 4,500 square feet. It was an ambitious project, but one that happened on schedule and on budget. The old Station No. 3, located at 1085 E. Simpson Avenue, closed on Oct. 12. It will be demolished to make room for another commercial or residential project. 

Station No. 3 will house one company, with three platoons. The living areas include 10 single-bunk rooms and two officer suites. There is administrative office space, a kitchen, and a training room. The designers were able to include a public meeting room as well. This room will be made available for outside groups from Sugar House and beyond to use as needed. 

“This station has been an exciting undertaking,” Salt Lake City Fire Deputy Chief Robert McMicken said. “It’s state-of-the-art energy capabilities, ample apparatus storage, and modern design is a beautiful, spacious replacement of one of the older stations in Salt Lake City. We absolutely needed this as we anticipate a significant population growth within the Sugar House area.”

The building hopes to serve as an example for other future stations across the country, both in design and energy efficiency. Salt Lake’s Fire Department has been gaining more national recognition. In December of 2017, they were awarded a Class 1 rating, the highest safety and risk evaluation rating possible by the Insurance Services office. The Fire Department services about 94 square miles, and now employs more than 320 sworn firefighters.