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28 July 2023
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Fire stations of the world: Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company, Baltimore County, Maryland, US
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The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company is located in Kingsville, Baltimore County in Maryland, US. Established in 1954 and located in northeastern Baltimore County, The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company provides fire, rescue and EMS services to Kingsville and the surrounding communities of White Marsh, Perry Hall, Long Green and Jacksonville, as well as mutual aid assistance to Harford County, including Joppa, Joppatowne, Edgewood, Fallston and Bel Air. The fire station is situated at 11601 Bellvue Avenue in Kingsville.
North Point Builders provided pre-construction and construction management services for the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company. The original station was constructed in 1950 and the company had been using the same building ever since. As the community has expanded and grown, so have the needs of the Fire Company to remain operational and effective. After years of fundraising and support from the community and local government, Kingsville Fire Company was able to expand and update their facility.
North Point Builders renovated the existing 16 200 square foot fire station with complete interior demolition to structure, allowing for construction of a new kitchen, full command centre, media rooms, offices, six single-bed spaces, a 12-bed open bunk room, individual bathrooms, two offices, a command and watch centre and a conference meeting room.
The original design intent was to utilise the existing three apparatus bay structure. However, due to unforeseen existing structural damage and complicated site conditions with sloping topography and steep grades, it was determined that utilising the original bay was not a viable option. After much discussion between Kingsville Fire Company and the Design Team, North Point Builders was requested to provide design-build services for a new Butler pre-engineered metal building totalling 3 000 square feet, giving the Fire Company a four apparatus bay facility at no additional cost.
Special qualities
As the Fire Company serves their community on a daily basis, it was crucial for the volunteers to continue their duties with minimal interruption by construction. The Fire Company located a temporary station on site including living quarters with storage containers and make-shift apparatus shelters. Once the temporary station was in place, North Point Builders proceeded with construction while allowing the Fire Company to continue 24/7 operations for the community.
The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company is located on one of the most challenging sites the firm has encountered. The department’s existing station was located in a region of Baltimore County that is notorious for soils that do not perc.
Finding a different site for a new station was not an option due to land costs and response times. Constructed on a tight, skewed and sloping site, this “spilt level” station serves as both a community centre and a fully functioning department.
The upper floor of the original 11 000 square foot masonry structure is renovated to provide a community centre with a full commercial kitchen that is grade accessible. The lower level of the building, which originally served as a bunk and operations area will be completely gutted and renovated, to tie into a new 17 500 square foot addition. The completed building includes a classroom capable of seating 45, large operations offices, a large command office/command centre, a board room, a fitness centre, lockers, private showers, space for 21 bunks, a department kitchen and a dining and day room designed to comfortably seat 18 people.
Anchoring the end of the building are seven full-size apparatus bays that house a wide range of apparatus including a swift water rescue squad.
Currently, the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company has over 100 members and responds to 1 700+ calls each year. They operate a 1 000-gallon pumper, a 750 gallon rescue squad, a tanker, a brush truck, an EMS unit and a swift-water rescue team. They consistently rate among the top responding companies in Baltimore County, usually at or above a 95 percent response rate.
“We were extremely pleased to work with North Point Builders as our partner on this project. They worked with us to find solutions to the challenges that were both functional and cost effective”, said Robert Chaney, Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company Inc president, Kingsville Fire Station.
“We are very pleased with the renovations to our facility and the new apparatus bays. The high-quality of work provided by the North Point Builders team will service the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company members and the Kingsville community we serve for many years to come”, said Edward F Griffiths Jr, Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company Inc Building Committee, Kingsville Fire Station.
Source: Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company, North Point Builders, MW Studios
North Point Builders provided pre-construction and construction management services for the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company. The original station was constructed in 1950 and the company had been using the same building ever since. As the community has expanded and grown, so have the needs of the Fire Company to remain operational and effective. After years of fundraising and support from the community and local government, Kingsville Fire Company was able to expand and update their facility.
North Point Builders renovated the existing 16 200 square foot fire station with complete interior demolition to structure, allowing for construction of a new kitchen, full command centre, media rooms, offices, six single-bed spaces, a 12-bed open bunk room, individual bathrooms, two offices, a command and watch centre and a conference meeting room.
The original design intent was to utilise the existing three apparatus bay structure. However, due to unforeseen existing structural damage and complicated site conditions with sloping topography and steep grades, it was determined that utilising the original bay was not a viable option. After much discussion between Kingsville Fire Company and the Design Team, North Point Builders was requested to provide design-build services for a new Butler pre-engineered metal building totalling 3 000 square feet, giving the Fire Company a four apparatus bay facility at no additional cost.
Special qualities
As the Fire Company serves their community on a daily basis, it was crucial for the volunteers to continue their duties with minimal interruption by construction. The Fire Company located a temporary station on site including living quarters with storage containers and make-shift apparatus shelters. Once the temporary station was in place, North Point Builders proceeded with construction while allowing the Fire Company to continue 24/7 operations for the community.
The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company is located on one of the most challenging sites the firm has encountered. The department’s existing station was located in a region of Baltimore County that is notorious for soils that do not perc.
Finding a different site for a new station was not an option due to land costs and response times. Constructed on a tight, skewed and sloping site, this “spilt level” station serves as both a community centre and a fully functioning department.
The upper floor of the original 11 000 square foot masonry structure is renovated to provide a community centre with a full commercial kitchen that is grade accessible. The lower level of the building, which originally served as a bunk and operations area will be completely gutted and renovated, to tie into a new 17 500 square foot addition. The completed building includes a classroom capable of seating 45, large operations offices, a large command office/command centre, a board room, a fitness centre, lockers, private showers, space for 21 bunks, a department kitchen and a dining and day room designed to comfortably seat 18 people.
Anchoring the end of the building are seven full-size apparatus bays that house a wide range of apparatus including a swift water rescue squad.
Currently, the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company has over 100 members and responds to 1 700+ calls each year. They operate a 1 000-gallon pumper, a 750 gallon rescue squad, a tanker, a brush truck, an EMS unit and a swift-water rescue team. They consistently rate among the top responding companies in Baltimore County, usually at or above a 95 percent response rate.
“We were extremely pleased to work with North Point Builders as our partner on this project. They worked with us to find solutions to the challenges that were both functional and cost effective”, said Robert Chaney, Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company Inc president, Kingsville Fire Station.
“We are very pleased with the renovations to our facility and the new apparatus bays. The high-quality of work provided by the North Point Builders team will service the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company members and the Kingsville community we serve for many years to come”, said Edward F Griffiths Jr, Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company Inc Building Committee, Kingsville Fire Station.
Source: Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company, North Point Builders, MW Studios
