News story about a new architectural design scheduled for three fire stations and the fire training academy facility in Columbia, Missouri

1. 29/1/2017 Fire facility renovations to cost $1.6 million | Local | columbiamissourian.com
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Fire facility renovations to cost $1.6 million
TOMÁS ORIHUELA Jan 27, 2017
COLUMBIA — The city is preparing to spend $1.6 million to renovate three old ere stations and the ere training academy.
The Columbia City Council last week authorized City Manager Mike Matthes to carry out an agreement with Archimages of St. Louis,
which will provide architectural designs for the renovations. The work will be funded with proceeds from a quarter-cent capital
improvement that voters approved in August 2015.
There is no erm date to begin the projects at Fire Stations No. 4, 5 and 6, at 2300 Oakland Gravel Road, 1400 Ballenger Lane and 3112
Chapel Hill Road, respectively, and at the ere training academy at 700 Big Bear Blvd., though the city hopes it will be done by the end of
the year.
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The main problems at the ere stations, which were built in the early 1970s, are leaky roofs. At Fire Station No. 4, built in 1970, iron
patches have been placed over some roof joints to prevent water damage. Still, it's not uncommon to see buckets collecting water on
rainy days, Fire Chief Randy White said.
ERIN ACHENBACH
A firetruck sits Wednesday in the driveway of Fire Station 4. Fire Station 4 will receive renovations to its roof,
bathroom facilities and heating and air conditioning systems. The station is one of three in Columbia that will be
renovated.
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2. 29/1/2017 Fire facility renovations to cost $1.6 million | Local | columbiamissourian.com
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Each of the ere stations also has one large bathroom with four communal showers. Those will be restructured to accommodate
diderent genders. The architects will also evaluate the stations' heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Total spending on the
stations will be slightly more than $1 million.
White said he doesn't know whether the stations will have to be closed during construction.
"The objective is to extend the lives of these three stations," he said.
Training academy to be restructured
Twice a year, the Columbia Fire Department conducts a 12-week training program for ereeghter recruits at the academy. The
department's 146 ereeghters also regularly attend classes at the facility. White said ereeghters have to know more than how to deal with
eres.
"Not a lot of people know that we also deal with gas leakages, car accidents and water issues," White said.
White estimates the city will spend about half a million dollars on the academy, but that could change after a February meeting with
professionals from Archimages.
The academy consists of a training tower, a one-story classroom building, small storage units and a two-story live-burn house that
allows ereeghters to practice in real situations.
White said he hopes to get as much work done as possible with a $500,000 ceiling.
The tower is safe but needs to be exed, White said.
"We also want to divide the classroom with a solid wall to diderentiate recruits from active-duty workers." Right now, a light, dusty
curtain separates the classroom.
The biggest expense at the academy is the construction of a 60-by-80-foot two-bay garage for ere trucks, which could also be used for
physical training during bad weather. Fire trucks are currently parked outdoors on a cracked parking lot that the department plans to
resurface.
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3. 29/1/2017 Fire facility renovations to cost $1.6 million | Local | columbiamissourian.com
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Tomas Orihuela
Spring 2017 Public Life reporter. I'm an exchange junior studying photojournalism with an emphasis on print and social media.