Willis Smith Construction announces the ground breaking of Fire Station 13 located on iconic Siesta Key Beach which will be replacing the 46 year old station. The new station is a two story building with 10,500 SF. Fire Station 13 has two drive-through apparatus bays for fire and rescue vehicles. The living and sleeping quarters have 8 dorm bunks, exercise room, full bathrooms, kitchen, dining area, living quarters. The facility also includes rooms for gear and equipment storage, hose drying, laundry and EMS storage. An added feature to Fire Station 13 there will be a screened in balcony with panoramic views of the iconic Siesta Key.

Once completed Fire Station 13 is planned to receive LEED “Certified” status through the USGBC by utilizing sustainable design requirements and is designed to withstand Category 4 hurricane winds. LEED® construction includes: incorporating a sustainable site, increased water efficiency, optimized energy performance along with increased indoor environmental quality. Specific examples of these items are: landscaping requiring zero watering after establishment; commissioning all equipment to verify optimal operational performance; use of recycled materials along with locally made local materials to decrease shipping waste; all construction debris is processed and what is recycled is diverted from landfills; the materials used on the job are low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to help in having a clean air building. The Architectural Firm of Sweet Sparkman Architects designed the facility along with consultants Quest Design Group, Inc. and Kimley-Horn.