The new Fire Headquarters for Peekskill, New York, is designed to meet the needs of an historic community and a department with a 200-year history. The Peekskill Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1813. Before the current consolidation, six companies occupied five stations—two from the 19th century and the newest 50 years old—all with glaring operational and firefighter health and safety issues.
The new Fire Headquarters is the culmination of 10 years of studies and planning. Mitchell Associates has worked closely with the department and city since 2007 to develop a design that addresses the following goals:
• Consolidate operations at a centrally-located facility;
• Meet today’s operational needs and health & safety standards;
• Provide a home for combined volunteer and career members;
• Construct a permanent building made of traditional materials that demonstrates the city’s commitment to the future;
• Prominently display their hand pumper (owned since 1826) and parade wagon (owned since the 1870s);
• Show proper respect to the fire service and those who protect us.
The building materials and forms create a timeless streetscape for the centrally-located building that serves as a new gateway to the city. Natural stone was quarried and machined in western Pennsylvania to shapes reflecting existing buildings in Peekskill.
Peekskill is in the midst of a revitalization, including a recently awarded $10 million Economic Development Grant. The new Fire Headquarters helped the city to position itself to successfully receive the grant.
This project won a 2019 Gold Award from Firehouse Magazine and a 2019 Bronze Award from F.I.E.R.O Fire Station Design Symposium.
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