In 2016, DeSoto County began the process of building its biggest fire station. The new Fire Station One, located within City of Arcadia limits, would take the place of 2 existing fire stations, house 14 firefighters, include an apparatus bay for 12 fire trucks and ambulances and have expansion ability for inclusion of administrative offices in the future. The $1.8 million project was funded with a $750,000 State appropriation as well as local funds.
Weiler Engineering Corporation (WEC) was tasked with providing full civil/site design and permitting as well as floor plans and building elevations. WEC also provide project management services throughout design and construction and assisted with verification required to support reimbursement through the State appropriation. The design process included the abandonment of a City alleyway and creation of a single lot from multiple lots and the abandoned alleyway, modifications to the City stormwater system, City historical approval, City site permitting, FDOT stormwater permitting, State stormwater permitting, coordination with Fire Department for site layout including various alternatives, and coordination with Fire Department for building floor plan to meet operation needs. WEC conducted over 10 design development meetings with County staff as part of developing a detailed 28-page design criteria package for the fire station. The project was bid as a design bid project, and WEC assisted by writing the technical criteria for the request for proposal process. WEC served as a member of the selection review committee and was the point of contact for the contract negotiations with the select- ed design build team.
The project went to the construction phase in 2017. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on January 19, 2018. The Contractor is closing out final punch list items in early February. Through out construction, WEC served as the owner’s representative, providing building plan review, supervising County inspection staff providing inspections, reviewing submittals, reviewing pay applications, negotiating change orders, hosting over 20 progress meetings, documenting using detailed minutes, coordinating walkthrough, creating punch lists and other items necessary for the successful completion of the design-build contract.
