Excerpt from Akron Beacon Journal article dated May 16, 2021.
Tallmadge is expected to begin Phase 1 site work for the new Fire Station 2 in June, and city council recently heard an update on the project from Mayor David Kline, Bobby Johnston of Mann Parsons Gray Architects, Fire Chief Michael Passarelli and Deputy Fire Chief Ben Stasik.
“We started working with KZF Design, the criteria architect. They know fire stations and EMS facilities. They’ve done over 100 of them throughout the country and they have the experience and knowledge,” Johnston said. “We have a lot of experience, and between our office and KZF’s history, we’re sure that numbers accurate.”
The exterior of the station will be in the Tallmadge Western Reserve style with masonry throughout. The bays will be 1.5 stories with a training mezzanine, and there will also be a three-level training tower.
Inside, there will be six bays for fire trucks, as well as four dorms, an officer dorm, lockers, a day room, kitchen and dining areas and a 40-person training room.
Due to new requirements, the fire station will also include a large fitness area as well as a hardened storm shelter.
The new fire station has several built-in features for training, such as the new fitness area that will allow firefighters to work out while on duty, but also may drive off-duty employees to the station, Passarelli said.
The tower will be used to practice repelling, dragging hose line, sprinkler systems, and rope work. The windows at the top of the tower can also open to allow firefighters to practice using the new tower ladder that’s in construction now.
For more information, read the Akron Beacon Journal article here.