Project Description
Beacon is a blended department with career and volunteer firefighters working out of three stations. Between 2006 and 2018 Mitchell Associates Architects (MAA) conducted four studies for Beacon. The purposes of the studies were to evaluate consolidation options including:
- One, two or three stations
- Renovations and additions, or
- New headquarters
In 2006, MAA conducted an evaluation of the condition of the existing fire stations; quantified the department’s current and future needs; and evaluated 13 alternative locations. The outcome of the study was the recommendation to build a new central station.
In 2017 MAA re-evaluated the City of Beacon’s needs, and evaluated nine prospective sites for a new consolidated headquarters. In 2018 MAA conducted a study evaluating the feasibility of consolidating the Beacon City Hall offices, Dutchess County satellite offices, and the Beacon Fire Department to cohabitate at the site of the current Dutchess County office building located on Main Street in Beacon.
MAA evaluated four options based on a variety of factors including space needs for all the departments, including to build: (1) a new combined city/county building with a new fire station on the same site; (2) a new City Hall; (3) a new combined city/county building with a drive aisle to Main Street; and (4) a new combined city/county building with a pocket park.
The recommendation was again made to build a new central fire headquarters. Although it was determined that the Main St. site could not accommodate a new facility, the other locations were possible depending on the budget.