Downtown Waterfront

Thomas Hacker/Michael Willis Architects has been selected to design new Fire Station #1    View the winning design presentation!

Fire Station #1 Relocation

      City Team:

Portland Fire and Rescue — Client and Project Funding

Portland Bureau of General Services — Project Management

Portland Development Commission — Partial Project Funding

Background

On November 7, 1998, the citizens of Portland authorized the sale of $53.8 million in General Obligation (GO) Bonds for a $61.1 million program to improve City emergency facilities after a study found that only one of the stations would likely be able to function after the design model seismic event.

The program also considers other facility needs including accessibility requirements, accommodations for female emergency responders, energy conservation measures, and community needs such as meeting rooms for Neighborhood Associations. Twenty fire stations were to be upgraded to the new seismic code, and operational requirements. Eleven new stations were to be constructed. It was anticipated that the full implementation of this program would take ten years.

The public participatory process was addressed by forming SACs for the stations. SAC’s make recommendations to the City regarding site acquisition and certain design elements. SAC members are usually representatives of the Neighborhood Associations or other interest groups located in the FMA for the station. The SAC for Station 1 assembled in July 2002 for the first time and began to identify potential relocation sites for Station 1.

At that time it was believed that Station 1 would have to be moved from its current site at 55 SW Ash due to a preliminary geotechnical study that identified soils liquefaction potential during a seismic event. A more detailed study conducted later that fall found that this potential could be satisfactorily mitigated at a cost within the project budget. In January 2003, the SAC recommended to the Fire Chief and Fire Commissioner that PF&R retain the current site and remodel the facility.

However, during this time PDC had commissioned a Downtown Waterfront DOS. This study, which can be obtained from PDC, proposed that the current Station 1 site be redeveloped to provide mixed-use opportunities. The Fire Commissioner requested that PF&R and BGS delay issuing the RFP to remodel the current facility in order to allow adequate time for this study to be finished.

The public’s enthusiasm for the redevelopment potential of 55 SW Ash grew and the SAC was asked to undertake a second relocation site identification and selection process. They were instructed to find a site that would be operationally “equal to or better” than the station’s current site. They made a second recommendation in September 2003 to relocate Station 1 to the site called “Block 8.”

Block 8 is bounded by NW 1st and Naito, NW Couch and Davis. PF&R operations required 3/4 of the block, and the existing Globe Hotel built in 1911, also known more recently as the original Import Plaza , would continue to occupy the other ¼ block. PDC acquired Block 8, and agreed to seismically stabilize the Globe so that it not present a hazard to emergency response during an event. In exchange for the current station site at 55 SW Ash, PDC will transfer ownership of the 3/4 block to the City and contribute $10.57 million towards new construction. The specifics of this agreement are contained in the DDA between PF&R and PDC and signed in July 2004.

The PAT composed of City staff from various bureaus was formed in November 2004 after PDC was confident that acquisition with the Block 8 property owner would occur.

The PAT developed the goals and objectives of the design team selection process in relation to the project. The project has been described as a “signature building” with high quality finishes that fits comfortably within the historic Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. Operationally and culturally, Station 1 is unique from all other fire stations in the City.

Project Funding

The anticipated cost for construction of the project has been determined by BGS, PF&R and PDC to be $14.4 million. The Station 1 project will be jointly funded through the PF&R GO Bond funds with PDC funds derived from Tax Increment Financing and allowable Bond funds.

Public Presentation of Competitive Design Proposals

Three local architectural teams presented their design concepts for the new headquarters of Portland Fire and Rescue Fire Station #1 to the public at Council Chambers, City Hall. The three competitive teams are Thomas Hacker Architects, Henneberry Eddy/Emmons and Allied Architecture.

     Thursday, May 12, 2005

           Design Concept Presentations:

• Allied Works Architecture — design presentation
• Henneberry Eddy/Emmons — design presentation
• Thomas Hacker/Michael Willis Architects — design presentation
  (winning design firm)

Monday May 16, 2005 — City announces Thomas Hacker/Michael Willis Architects to design Fire Station #1.

Background of Selection Process

The three design firms were selected from a pool of ten teams responding to a Request for Qualifications in April 2005. The selected teams were asked to reply to a Request for Proposals (RFP) and were eligible to receive a $25,000 stipend to compete a conceptual design scheme for the Fire Station. The design teams, along with the Selection Committee for the RFP, met with the public at a neighborhood meeting to hear the community’s ideas and desires for the project. The Selection Committee will recommend the highest scoring design team to the Portland Fire and Rescue, who will have final approval for the selection of the team.

After final selection, the winning design team will work with the community to develop the scheme through the Station Advisory Committee that is comprised of representatives of the neighborhood. Additionally, design progress will be presented at the Old Town/Chinatown Visions Committee and Neighborhood Association.

Team Leader

• Connie Johnson, Bureau of General Services (BGS), e-mail
  

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