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21 March 2025
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Fire stations of the world: Rotorua Airport Fire Station, Rotorua, New Zealand
Rotorua Regional Airport’s new fire station is a modern addition that complements the existing airport landscape. Highly functional, the spaces enable #fire and management teams to operate efficiently in their day-to-day work. The building houses the two airport rescue tenders together with two operations response vehicles as well as other essential operations, communications and security systems.
Rotorua Airport chief executive Mark Gibb said the redevelopment of the fire and rescue facilities were necessary after a seismic survey of the existing building showed it was earthquake prone.
For Fire and Operations manager, Rhys Frearson, the new facility will be is a significant step up from the old building, with firefighters and operational staff fully involved in the design process to ensure the centre best meets the needs of the growing airport. "We are really excited to get into the new facility. After being in a building which was more than half a century old, this new facility will make a significant difference and means the airport is best prepared for emergencies."
Rotorua Airport’s Fire and Operations is primarily responsible for responding to aviation related incidents in the local area. The Airport Fire and Operations team also respond to any incident that may have an effect on the aerodrome including medical, general fire and hazardous substance emergencies. A wide range of airfield services is also performed to ensure ongoing compliance with Civil Aviation Rules, including runway inspections, assessing runway surface and visibility conditions, wildlife management, perimeter security and foreign object management.
The Airport Fire and Operations team work on a roster system and covers 15 hours a day, 365 days a year, The airport’s fire station was built in 2018 and strategically located to enable full emergency response to any air-side location within three minutes of an alarm.
Rotorua Airport is rated Category 5 or Category 6 by request for rescue and firefighting purposes according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classification. This means being suitably resourced to respond with a minimum of two vehicles, with a total capacity of 8 000 litres of water with a discharge rate of 4 000 litres per minute, along with 225kg of dry chemical powder (DCP) at 2.25kg per second.
The Rotorua Airport Emergency Service operates specialised, all-wheel drive aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles. The major foam vehicle being the Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 which is one of the most state-of-the-art firefighting vehicles available. This vehicle alone can discharge 7 000litres of water a minute and carries a water capacity of 7 500 litres.
Rotorua Regional Airport had a clear vision of seamlessly integrating its new fire station into the airport’s distinctive environment. A priority of its vision was maintaining a balance between functionality, safety and practicality to deliver a successful outcome that met all requirements.
Due to outdated building and airport regulations, the old fire station failed to meet the necessary standards. The client was exploring the purchase of two larger fire engines that could not fit within the existing garage, making it essential to construct a new facility. In an effort to streamline operations, Rotorua Regional Airport aimed to consolidate all airport management personnel into a single location and requested the incorporation of new offices and a spacious boardroom within the new space.
“Our teams in architecture, mechanical, hydraulics, electrical and structural engineering played a pivotal role in facilitating the redevelopment of the facility. The new fire station and office building at Rotorua Regional Airport was thoughtfully designed to seamlessly integrate into the airport’s unique environment. Our team prioritised functionality, safety and practicality throughout the design phase, collaborating closely with airport staff so that disruption to daily operations during construction was minimal”, said GHD Design in their statement.
The choice of materials and colours were carefully considered to create a distinctive look for the building while avoiding any negative impact on air traffic control.
The spaces were intentionally designed to enhance the efficiency of the fire and management teams, featuring diverse work settings, enclosed meeting rooms, semi-enclosed collaborative areas, quiet nooks and open plazas across the nine floors, each with its own unique colour and geometry.
While significantly enhancing the Airport’s fire services infrastructure, the facility features a sleek and modern design that seamlessly integrates with the existing landscape.
Sources: Rotorua Airport, GHD Design, New Zealand Herald
Rotorua Airport chief executive Mark Gibb said the redevelopment of the fire and rescue facilities were necessary after a seismic survey of the existing building showed it was earthquake prone.
For Fire and Operations manager, Rhys Frearson, the new facility will be is a significant step up from the old building, with firefighters and operational staff fully involved in the design process to ensure the centre best meets the needs of the growing airport. "We are really excited to get into the new facility. After being in a building which was more than half a century old, this new facility will make a significant difference and means the airport is best prepared for emergencies."
Rotorua Airport’s Fire and Operations is primarily responsible for responding to aviation related incidents in the local area. The Airport Fire and Operations team also respond to any incident that may have an effect on the aerodrome including medical, general fire and hazardous substance emergencies. A wide range of airfield services is also performed to ensure ongoing compliance with Civil Aviation Rules, including runway inspections, assessing runway surface and visibility conditions, wildlife management, perimeter security and foreign object management.
The Airport Fire and Operations team work on a roster system and covers 15 hours a day, 365 days a year, The airport’s fire station was built in 2018 and strategically located to enable full emergency response to any air-side location within three minutes of an alarm.
Rotorua Airport is rated Category 5 or Category 6 by request for rescue and firefighting purposes according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classification. This means being suitably resourced to respond with a minimum of two vehicles, with a total capacity of 8 000 litres of water with a discharge rate of 4 000 litres per minute, along with 225kg of dry chemical powder (DCP) at 2.25kg per second.
The Rotorua Airport Emergency Service operates specialised, all-wheel drive aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles. The major foam vehicle being the Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 which is one of the most state-of-the-art firefighting vehicles available. This vehicle alone can discharge 7 000litres of water a minute and carries a water capacity of 7 500 litres.
Rotorua Regional Airport had a clear vision of seamlessly integrating its new fire station into the airport’s distinctive environment. A priority of its vision was maintaining a balance between functionality, safety and practicality to deliver a successful outcome that met all requirements.
Due to outdated building and airport regulations, the old fire station failed to meet the necessary standards. The client was exploring the purchase of two larger fire engines that could not fit within the existing garage, making it essential to construct a new facility. In an effort to streamline operations, Rotorua Regional Airport aimed to consolidate all airport management personnel into a single location and requested the incorporation of new offices and a spacious boardroom within the new space.
“Our teams in architecture, mechanical, hydraulics, electrical and structural engineering played a pivotal role in facilitating the redevelopment of the facility. The new fire station and office building at Rotorua Regional Airport was thoughtfully designed to seamlessly integrate into the airport’s unique environment. Our team prioritised functionality, safety and practicality throughout the design phase, collaborating closely with airport staff so that disruption to daily operations during construction was minimal”, said GHD Design in their statement.
The choice of materials and colours were carefully considered to create a distinctive look for the building while avoiding any negative impact on air traffic control.
The spaces were intentionally designed to enhance the efficiency of the fire and management teams, featuring diverse work settings, enclosed meeting rooms, semi-enclosed collaborative areas, quiet nooks and open plazas across the nine floors, each with its own unique colour and geometry.
While significantly enhancing the Airport’s fire services infrastructure, the facility features a sleek and modern design that seamlessly integrates with the existing landscape.
Sources: Rotorua Airport, GHD Design, New Zealand Herald