The South River Fire Department is a 70 member volunteer department. The existing station, built c. 1917, experienced flooding along area roadways during Superstorm Sandy, after which time it was decided that a new location was needed. Determining a new location was a complicated, two-year process because the Borough of South River is 95% built out and located in a flood plain. Site issues, the new building required being constructed on 325 piles & required removal of contaminated soil to a depth of 15 ft.
Mitchell Associates provided programming and design for the new, two-story, 21,388 sf building and renovations to the adjacent building to house several association office and meeting space as well as records storage.
The 5,730 sf apparatus bay has three double-deep drive through and two back-in bays, allowing the cab of the ladder truck to be lifted while inside. The decon/laundry has two 105-pound capacity washer/extractors and two drying cabinets.
These upgraded health and safety features protects firefighters from toxins and contaminants encountered during calls. The SCBA fill compressor is isolated from the fill station room for hearing protection. Training space includes a classroom, a mezzanine with a bailout window and confined space extrication manhole, and an exercise room.
The meeting room can accommodate 85 people seated at tables and can be divided into two rooms. It is serviced by a kitchenette, with storage for tables, chairs, and training props. The station also includes space for future bunking to accommodate ten firefighters. The building envelope and all mechanical and electrical items exceed current energy efficiency standards. Mitchell Associates worked with the department to meet the funding requirements from the United States Department of Agriculture.
“[The new fire house] is gorgeous,” former Mayor Raymond Eppinger said. “It’s been a long time in coming, but the great thing about it is it’s such an efficient and professional use of space that I think the residents of South River are going to be very, very pleased for a very long time that this project was undertaken.”
This project won a 2018 Notable Design Award from Firehouse Magazine.
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