Tucson Fire Central

Bob Vint served as Design & Historical Consultant to WSM Architects for the design of a new facility to replace the aging Tucson Fire Department Downtown Station #1, combined with offices for Fire Administration and Fire Prevention in a new 60,000 sq. ft. two-story building. The site is a former parking lot on Cushing St. adjacent to historic Barrio Viejo, just south of the Tucson Convention Center. The commission resulted from a design competition in which sensitivity to the historic context was a major consideration. As part of integrating the two-story L-shaped structure into the historic neighborhood, a small placita is proposed at the south end of the site, framed by the historic adobe chapel of San Cosme. The new building relates to its setting in massing, texture, scale and color. Parking is provided beneath the structure. Fire Station #1 opens north onto to Cushing St. while the office wing turns to the southeast. A bell tower will hold the historic ‘5-Mile Bell,’ which was used by the TFD in the 19th century when it was an all-volunteer force.