Scope
New Schneider Road Fire Station
Completion
2013
Size
18,000 sf
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.
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
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.
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
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