For BWJFD, their 100-year-old, single-bay station no longer supported modern fire and EMS operations. This undersized, deteriorating facility had limited capacity, outdated systems, and no room for expansion, while service demands continued to grow. When a tornado struck and left the town without power for nine days, it revealed another critical need: a dedicated storm shelter to protect residents during severe weather.

The new fire station was designed to address both needs. It improves access to fire and EMS services while incorporating an ICC 500–rated storm shelter designed to withstand EF5 impacts. Serving Morrow County, including the villages of Marengo, Chesterville, and surrounding townships, the new facility supports day-to-day operations and establishes a more reliable emergency infrastructure.  

Funding the new station came with a critical tradeoff. While BWJFD secured a mix of federal congressional spending, a USDA loan, and local support, the voter-approved levy hinged on a key promise: inclusion of a community room.

This added significant cost and complexity to an already constrained $2.4 million project. As a result, several initially identified “need-to-have” elements were reevaluated during planning, with some ultimately shifting to “nice-to-have” to remain within budget.

In 2024, this strategy ultimately made construction of the new fire station possible while reinforcing a clear commitment to long-term community resilience. It also required a design approach that prioritized function over form and aligned with the district’s operational realities.

Early planning conversations focused on understanding how the district operates day‑to‑day and where inefficiencies in the existing facilities were impacting response times and firefighter safety.

Two major design components shaped the project:

1. Balancing Fire Operations and Community Space
   Limited funding meant limited square footage. Both the operational needs of the fire station and the inclusion of a community room were non‑negotiable. The design required careful programming to ensure neither function compromised the other.

2. Apparatus Bay Configuration
   While drive-through bays offer operational convenience, the additional cost of site circulation drives (and the associated earthwork) made them impractical. ms worked closely with BWJFD to evaluate tradeoffs and ultimately designed back‑in bays that maintained safety and efficiency without exceeding budget constraints.

The resulting design is a 6,731 square‑foot pre‑engineered metal building that emphasizes durability, operational clarity, and ease of maintenance. It is classified as Type IIB construction and is non-sprinklered, further aligning the design with budgetary and operational requirements.

Key facility features include:

• Five‑bay apparatus room
• Four‑person dormitory
• Dispatch area
• Office and administrative space
• Kitchen and dayroom
• Decontamination and shower areas, including one for community access
• Tornado shelter
• Storage mezzanine
• Public restroom facilities
• Multipurpose community room

Material selections, structural systems, and layouts were chosen based on efficiency, constructability, and long-term operational performance, ensuring the district received maximum value from its investment.

Beyond improving emergency response, the Chesterville Fire Station fulfills BWJFD’s commitment to the community it serves. The multipurpose room provides space for public meetings, training, and community events, reinforcing the station’s role as both a public safety hub and a civic asset.

Through transparent discussions on priorities, tradeoffs, and long-term value, the final design was rooted in function-over-form with layout, structure, and materials chosen due to their efficiency, usability, and practicality. This project demonstrates how thoughtful planning, honest collaboration, and disciplined design can deliver meaningful impact, even under tight constraints.

Watch the full project story here.