The City of Boston’s Public Facilities Department (PFD) engaged Schwartz/Silver Architects to develop a programming and concept design study for a new Boston Fire Department (BFD) Headquarters. The study included an assessment of the existing facility, programming meetings to understand current and future operational needs, and the development of conceptual plans and massing studies to test how a new facility could be accommodated on the existing site.

The recommended concept design introduces a bisecting service road aligned with Island Street, allowing controlled access to all of the service garages and staff and visitor parking. Key features of the proposed design include: a two-story high-volume primary garage with 14 service bays and storage, two levels of structured parking above the garage, a seven-story administrative tower with direct access from the parking levels, a glass-faced public lobby facing Mass. Ave. with a security desk to monitor visitor circulation, a terraced southern wing housing specialty units, fire prevention, and shared amenities including a cafeteria, daycare center, gym, and outdoor terraces. Exterior materials include precast concrete base, glass and metal panel facade above, and stainless-steel mesh screening the parking levels.