BSSW Architects celebrates opening of Marco Island Fire Station 50
The Floridant/10243799

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- BSSW Architects recently celebrated the completion of Marco Island Fire & Rescue Station 50, a sprawling government complex that will double as an Emergency Operations Center for the Collier County island community.

BSSW was awarded an architectural, planning and interior design services contract in early 2020 and completed its initial designs in December 2020. Demolition of the previous fire station began in summer 2021, with construction completed this spring.

The 24,000-square-foot complex features three 90-foot, drive-through apparatus bays for fire trucks and ambulances, as well as 13 individual bunk rooms for firefighters and paramedics, administrative offices and a community room. An adjacent three-story tower will serve as a functional training center for first responders.

Located at 1280 San Marco Rd. in Marco Island, Fire Station 50 is Marco Island's Emergency Operations Center and features a hardened "safe room" with standalone power and utilities that can remain operable for five days. The building itself is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and is raised two feet above base flood elevation. The complex houses the city's primary data and information technology center.

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"Southwest Florida's coastline is especially vulnerable to storm surge, and Marco Island needed a world-class Emergency Operations Center that could continue functioning through hurricanes, power outages and disruptions of telephone communications," said BSSW President and Principal Architect Dan Summers, AIA. "Designing a hardened, self-sufficient command center ensures fire and rescue services, as well as government operations, can serve the community throughout any emergency."

Summers was BSSW's principal in charge for the project, while Project Architect Oscar Prieto, AIA, served as the project manager. Manhattan Construction was the general contractor.

BSSW, which specializes in architectural designs for government buildings like fire stations, public libraries and schools, also designed Marco Island Fire Station 51, a modern, two-story concrete facility that opened in 2019 and features two apparatus bays with stylish, red-trimmed glass doors, office space, a conference room, kitchen and dining area, five bunk rooms, a fitness room and firefighters' lounge.