Sol Harris Day Architecture

Initial direction from the trustees and the fire department was to renovate two existing Plain Township, Ohio fire stations to accommodate a growing township, larger modern-day equipment and a full-time fire fighting force. After SōL Harris/Day Architecture conducted studies to determine the best solution, the documentation showed that it would be almost the same cost to construct a new fire station in a more central “hub” location, combining locations for better efficiency.

Services

  • Master Planning
  • Facility Assessments
  • Space Utilization
  • Visioning
  • Estimating/Scheduling
  • Architecture
  • Interior Design
  • Construction Services

Site Orientation

Schneider Park was chosen as the new location as it was less than a minute from three schools and closer to new development, improving overall fire response times. The infrastructure was already in place to service the fire station and parking could be shared between the two facilities.

By bringing the station to a more central location, we’re able to respond north, south, east and west. We’re able to respond more effectively. The faster we can get there ... the better we’re able to serve the public and save a life.

Chief Don Snyder, Retired Plain Township Fire Chief

Project Goals

  • Blend the new fire station with the surrounding park for maximum efficiency
  • Provide on-site training opportunities to keep staff current
  • Update technology to provide better ways to serve the community
  • Provide an advanced fire station while keeping a traditional appearance and extending the life of the building

Street Presence

The next step was to determine how it would work for the new fire station to share the space with the surrounding park. Keeping the fire departments’ vision in mind, the new fire station was designed with a traditional look and feel. Initial designs had a more rustic wooden building that blended with the park, more like a ranger station. The final designs include red and brown bricks and a stone façade that also blended well with the natural park environment while extending the life of the fire station and reducing future maintenance costs.

Building Organization

The 9,000 sf apparatus bay can hold eight emergency fire vehicles and has four large doors at the front and back for ease of entry and exit. Hooks and hoists were added to the bay area to allow the firefighters to practice repelling onsite.

This is going to accommodate everything our fire services need to do over the next 15 to 20 years.

Louis Giavasis, Plain Township Trustee

Project Highlights

  • Conducted a study for a new central “hub” fire station at Schneider Street to serve the surrounding fire stations and create a shared space between the park and fire station
  • Designed to better serve the community, decrease response times, accommodate future equipment, become more efficient and maximize training within the fire station space
  • Incorporates state-of-the-art alerting system, full building back-up electric generation, full-time department (24/7) accommodations and training (classroom and physical) facilities
  • The design extends the life of the building by planning for future equipment needs with deeper than average apparatus bays and a second floor that can be expanded over the first floor roof
  • Staff accommodations include a kitchen and lounge, a reading room, sleeping quarters, an exterior patio, an exercise room, a training classroom, offices for administrative staff, a laundry room, an equipment storage room and even a tower so hoses can be hung to dry

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K-12

Alliance City SchoolsAshland County-West Holmes Career CenterCanton City SchoolsCarrollton Exempted Village SchoolsCentral Catholic High SchoolChippewa Local SchoolsCrestwood Local SchoolsCuyahoga Valley Christian AcademyThe Golden Key for Exceptional ChildrenGreen Local Schools (Green, Ohio)Green Local Schools (Smithville, Ohio)Indian Creek Local SchoolsJackson Local SchoolsLake Local SchoolsMarlington Local SchoolsMassillon City SchoolsNordonia Hills City School DistrictNorth Canton City SchoolsNorthwest Local SchoolsOsnaburg Local SchoolsPerry Local SchoolsRG Drage Career Technical CenterRootstown Local SchoolsSandy Valley Local SchoolsSolon City SchoolsSt. Michael SchoolStark County Board of Developmental DisabilitiesStrasburg-Franklin Local SchoolsTallmadge City SchoolsTriway Local SchoolsWayne County Schools

Higher Education

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Workplace

3D Business AcceleratorAdvanced Storage SystemsAirtex ProductsAkron-Canton AirportAkron Community FoundationASC IndustriesArtsinStarkBekaertBridgestone AmericasCampbell Oil CompanyCarroll County TransitCutler RealtorsDiebold NixdorfDix CommunicationsEnvironmental Design GroupFedex Custom CriticalFirst MeritGE CapitalGreat Lakes ConstructionIn The RoundKiko Auctioneers and RealtorsLean DogLG FuelNational Inventors Hall of FameNickles BakeryPegasus FarmPenske TruckPro Car Automotive GroupProgressive InsuranceS.D. Myers IndustriesSecuritas Electronic SecurityStark Community FoundationSummit County Department of Job & Family ServicesSterling JewelersStruktol Company of AmericaTaylor BankThe Timken CompanyStark County CommissionersTomTod Ideas Inc.United Glass and Panel SystemsUnited Way of Greater Stark CountyThe Vasco GroupYoung Truck

Recreation

Alliance Country ClubAlliance Family YMCAAshland County ParksBoy Scouts of AmericaBrookside Country ClubBucyrus Area YMCACambridge YMCACampCarl.lifeCongress Lake Country ClubEric Snow YMCA (Downtown Canton)Ernie's Bicycle ShopFirestone Country ClubGeauga Park DistrictGirl Scouts of North East OhioGlenmoor Country ClubLakota YMCALouisville YMCAMassillon Boys & Girls ClubMinerva YMCAMount Vernon YMCAMurfreesboro Tennis ComplexMuskingum Watershed Conservancy DistrictNorth Canton YMCAParamount Tennis ClubPaul & Carol David YMCA (Jackson)Pegasus FarmShady Hallow Country ClubSilver Lake Country ClubStark ParksStark County Wilderness CenterTiffin Community YMCATuscarawus County YMCAWestbrook Country ClubYMCA of Central Stark County

Other

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