Groundbreaking for the new fire station occurred on June 15, 1971. The official opening and flag-raising ceremonies were held at the new Central Fire Headquarters on December 12, 1972. Present were Mayor Julius Wilensky, Fire Chief Charles R. McRedmond, Chairman of the Fire Commission member Joseph A. Czescik, John E. Cooper Comm. of Public Works.
On July 1, 1973, Fire Engineering Magazine wrote up an article about the new fire station.
The Stamford, Conn., Fire Department recently opened a three-story, five-bay 24,320-square-foot station that has the distinction of having been built for less than the budgeted estimate. The total cost of the building was $987,000, and an additional $152,525 was spent on communications room equipment that can handle both telegraph and radio alarm boxes.
The apparatus floor can hold four engines, a ladder truck and four smaller vehicles. There are two rear doors to the bays for the smaller vehicles. At the sides of this floor are hose maintenance and storage rooms, a turnout gear storage area and a turnout gear shower. The apparatus floor is concrete that is specially treated to resist abrasion.
On the second floor, there is a dormitory for 24 men and four rooms for line officers. To ensure a degree of privacy for each fire fighter without incurring the prohibitive cost of individual rooms, the architects developed a dormitory with private sleeping areas defined by 6-foot 4-inch high wooden wardrobe units. In this way, each fire fighter has his own quarters containing a bed, a reading lamp and a closet. Both the dormitory and the officers’ rooms are carpeted, minimizing sound transmission and enhancing the restful atmosphere.
Toilet and shower facilities are adjacent to the dormitory. A recreation area, consisting of a lounge, a fully equipped kitchen and a dining area with floors covered in vinyl asbestos tile occupy the rest of the air-conditioned second floor.
On the third floor are air-conditioned and carpeted administrative offices and the communications center. Provision has been made for expansion of this level. There are offices here for the chief, assistant chief, fire marshal and his staff, and the training officer.
In a partial basement are a general storage area, an emergency generator room and extra equipment storage.
Oversized brick is used both on the exterior and interior of the steel frame structure. It provides a low-maintenance wall finish inside and out.
The architects for the new station, which is also the department headquarters, were Howard Weinreich and Anthony Masciarelii of Weinreich and Masciarelli, Stamford.
Fire Engineering Magazine, 7/1/1973
The Original Plans For The Central Fire Station
