The City of Des Moines selected OPN Architects to design the new Fire Logistics and Training Facility. The building encloses 53,773 square feet and house administration offices and training facilities for the city’s fire department. The new space also provides a maintenance shop and warehouse for fire trucks and ambulances. The design objective for this project was to create a flexible, functional public building with a life-span of 50 years with options for future expansion. The project has significantly improved the City of Des Moines’ ability to provide quality public safety services to the community.

The new facility includes the following components:

• Training spaces such as classrooms and a multipurpose area
• Locker room
• Vehicle bays for the maintenance of fire vehicles and equipment
• Welding booth
• Shop areas
• Parts storage spaces

Local issues of context, style, and image were taken into consideration in the design of the Fire Logistics and Training Facility. The team embraced a design philosophy that produces a wide range of responses and stresses aesthetic and functional appropriateness, while incorporating natural site responsiveness.