Wannemacher Jensen Architects will design Plant City’s newest fire station, which is set to open in April 2018.
On paper, Plant City’s third fire station is starting to come to life.
City Commissioners approved Wannemacher Jensen Architects to design a new fire station for Plant City on Monday, Nov. 28. The new station will be located off of Park Road near Interstate 4, next to Mike E. Sansone Community Park.
In June, the City of Plant City received nine proposals for the design of the station. A selection committee comprised of Assistant City Manager Bill McDaniel, Buddy Storey, City Engineer Michael Schenk, Mark Emery and Plant City Rescue Chief Dan Azzariti chose three companies to make design presentations, later choosing Wannemacher for the design process.
The company has a proposed design fee of $273,974, which comes under the City’s budget of $353,000 for the design process. The fee includes engineering-related services.
Wannemacher Jensen Architects’ proposed design for the station includes a drive-thru station that incorporates the existing Plant City Tourist Information Center to be used for the fire department’s administrative offices or other services.
A decision on the relocation of the tourist information center has not yet been made.
The proposed design includes a kitchen area, sleeping quarters for fire rescue staff, bathrooms and showers, three drive-through bays, an emergency generator and a lockable
medical storage room. Site improvements include visitor and staff parking, internal drives, site lighting, landscaping and irrigation around the buildings and an emergency traffic stop signal on Park Road.
The design also incorporates an antique fire engine bay, where Plant City Fire Rescue will display its existing 1927 American LaFrance fire engine.
Currently, the City of Plant City has two fire stations, both located on Alexander Street. The third fire station is being built to enhance services and improve response times across the city.
“This statin is being built to be able to respond to challenges of new growth in the city, including Varrea and North Park Isles,” City Manager Mike Herr said. “It will also improve response times along the industrial corridor. We are pleased with the design plan.”
The design of the third station will begin this month and is expected to be completed by March 27, 2017, later going back to the City Commission for final approval. In April 2017, advertisement for construction bids will begin.
Once the construction bids are evaluated, the City Commission is expected to approve a construction contract in late May 2017.
Completed construction and the grand opening of the station is projected for early April 2018.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
