GREENFIELD — The Fire Station Building Committee reviewed preliminary design plans on Thursday evening for the new fire station, slated to be built on the Main Street property near the intersection with Coombs Avenue.
In a virtual presentation to committee members, architect Katrina N. Pacheco with Pacheco Ross Architects described the design plans for the building, both in terms of interior layout — which includes administrative offices, apparatus bays, dormitories and a living space, as well as an entryway for the public with a vestibule for the fire station museum — and the exterior appearance of the structure.
The city recently closed on the site slated for the construction of the new fire station. Prior to demolition work, the properties, located at 33 to 39 Main St. and 10 to 12 Coombs Ave., included a greenhouse and two apartment buildings.
“This is the schematic design of the building that is meeting the chief’s needs,” Pacheco said, emphasizing colors have not been decided and materials still need to be further discussed.
Pacheco noted that employee parking will be located off Coombs Avenue, with parking along Main Street for the public.
The proposed design, she said, aims to incorporate both the desire to maintain the traditional historic design of fire stations while also giving it a modern look.
“There are a lot of feelings that fire stations should (have a) … colonial, traditional-style look, which I think the back of the building looks like that,” said Fire Chief Robert Strahan. “The actual utilization of the space kind of dictated the design of this.”
He added that other “very historic areas” are beginning to build fire stations with a “more modern look.”
Architect Dennis Ross, also with Pacheco Ross Architects, added that with the number of different types of spaces needed in the building, maintaining a colonial look would both be “very expensive” and look “kind of clunky.”
In general, Fire Station Building Committee members seemed enthusiastic about the designs as presented.
“They’ve definitely taken the time to listen to (the firefighters’) concerns regarding the space,” commented Fire Lt. Peter McIver, a member of the committee. “Conceptually speaking, I think it’s going to work really well.”
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner said she thought the design was compact and well done.
“I personally like the way it announces itself coming up the street and certainly along Main Street,” she said.
There were questions about the trees out front — particularly as a line of sight concern — and the brick wall on the edge of Main Street.
“The maturity of those trees — I’m really familiar with them,” said Public Works Director Marlo Warner II. “They may have to go anyway … and we can address that tree belt in another way.”
Committee member Jennifer Stromsten asked whether the Fire Department would be receptive to windows looking out to the street.
“I think it looks great and I’m impressed with what you’ve been able to do on a site that has a lot of constraints,” said Stromsten. “From an urban planning perspective, it’s a lot of wall for a street.”
Pacheco confirmed for committee member Jean Wall that the design falls within the city’s budget. Both the temporary and permanent stations are expected to cost $17.3 million altogether, about $1.8 million of which was budgeted for the temporary station.
Committee members agreed Thursday evening to “pencil in” additional meetings for further discussion that could be canceled on weeks when there isn’t a need to meet — just as they did when meeting to discuss the temporary fire station, Stromsten said.
Ross said the architectural firm will have more details at the next meeting, including a discussion of materials.
The city expects to use the temporary fire station on Hope Street for about two years, while the new station is being built. The former Main Street fire station, which was fenced off in September, will be demolished to make way for the construction of a new library on the same property.
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne