The Bighorn Fire Station in East Vail (Station 1) was originally designed by our firm in 1980. The station originally contained duty quarters for 3, housing for 6 fire academy students, and an employee housing unit (reserved for emergency personnel). It was a particularly rewarding experience to be involved in the renovation of the facility decades later.

Station 1 is comfortably located in a neighborhood of freestanding residential dwellings. A significant influence on the original design and recent renovation/addition was to respect and maintain compatibility with the fabric of the low-density surroundings. Staff parking is located in 2 smaller lots, again seeking compatibility with the neighborhood.

Changes in apparatus, firefighter safety, and modern firefighting equipment left Station 1 unable to accommodate the needs of the staff.

The renovation/addition allowed for larger ladders and pumpers, hazmat mitigation, improved safety stations, and larger emergency generators.

The new facility has improved kitchen and gym facilities, larger (4 staff) duty quarters with spacious outdoor decks, duty and staff offices, and a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom employee housing unit.

This addition of employee housing units helps Vail fulfill its goal of allowing critical personnel to live in Vail and be close by to respond to emergencies.

The Station 1 project has been well received by the neighborhood, has created a more positive work environment for the firefighters, provided improved response time, and made the Town of Vail a more desirable location for citizens and guests.