Story posted Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Fire Dept. Eyes Quicker Response Times With New Station
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
Palatine officials Monday approved a contract with Carol Stream-based Williams Architects for architectural and construction services in the amount of $221,100 for a new $3 million, 8,500 sq. ft. fire station.
The fire house will be located on the northeast corner of Quentin Road and Echo Lane, replacing the current Fire Station 81 at 455 Dundee Rd.
A special fire department committee studied the best location for a fire station with the goal of improving response times in the west and northwest regions of the village.
According to village officials, the site at Quentin and Echo gives fire and EMS staff quickest access in all directions, but especially to the west using either Dundee Road or Northwest Hwy.
The current fire station on Dundee Road is farther east and does not provide quick access to Northwest Hwy. or Lake Cook Road.
"We're trying to get the best access to westbound 14 (Northwest Hwy.), good access back to Dundee, and a straight shot to Lake Cook," said Fire Chief Bob Falardeau. "From the new site we will be able to get to 14 in under a minute easily and get to Dundee in less than 30 seconds."
Falardeau added that fire fighters at the current location are pushing six minutes for response times in the far reaching areas of the village. The goal is to get that time under five minutes and closer to four minutes.
Village staff received 20 qualification statements from architects interested in performing the work. From the pool of architects, four finalists were selected and interviewed. Based upon those interviews, their understanding of the project, their experience in fire station design, expertise and references, Wiliams Architects was selected.
"This is the first time we will be working with Williams, but their references checked out very strongly," said Village Manager Reid Ottesen.
Williams services will include architectural, basic structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, engineering, landscape architecture, interior finishes design, civil engineering, low voltage design and consulting work on selecting a construction management service.
The design portion of the project is expected to be completed within six months with construction to take an additional 12 months to complete. The new fire station is expected to be operating by the end of 2010.
Funding for this project is expected to be provided by the sale of bonds later this year. However, possible government grants as well as the proceeds from the real estate sale of the current Fire Station 81 may significantly offset the $3 million cost of the project.
The move will result in no changes in staffing, Falardeau added.
The fire station's future site currently encompasses two single-family homes that were purchased by the village. The homeowners are in the process of moving out and the homes are expected to be demolished later this summer.
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