Peekskill Central Firehouse Recognized for Outstanding Design

Peekskill, N.Y. (November 25, 2019) – The City of Peekskill is pleased to announce that its Central Firehouse has received a 2019 Gold Station Design Award from Firehouse Magazine and a 2019 Bronze Award from F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design Symposium. Newly opened in December 2018, the fire headquarters was designed by Mitchell Associates Architects to meet the needs of an historic community and a department with a 200-year history.

The Peekskill Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1813. Before the current consolidation, six companies occupied five stations — two from the 19th century and the newest 50 years old — all with glaring operational and firefighter health and safety issues. To remedy this, the City brought in Mitchell Associates Architects from Voorheesville, N.Y., a firm specializing in public safety design, and Manitou Inc. from Peekskill, which specializes in analyzing fire service needs, departmental operations, and best locations for response time, to plan a new station.

“Mitchell Associates Architects has done a phenomenal job delivering a carefully-planned facility that meets the needs of both our hardworking Peekskill fire companies and our citizens,” said Mayor Andre Rainey. “Our new Central Firehouse has been a decade in the making. We are proud of the recognitions the firehouse has received and congratulate the entire design team involved in making our goals for this facility a reality.”

The $12 million, 30,300 sq-ft two-story building consolidates five existing facilities and includes features that focus on quick response and firefighter health and safety. The state-of the-art facility is equipped a kitchen, locker room, sleeping quarters, training stations, and a public meeting room. The lobby also features a Fire Museum that highlights 190 years of proud service to the community.

“We are thrilled that the Peekskill Central Firehouse has received two significant design awards from the two premier organizations that judge the quality of fire station design,” said Robert Mitchell, principal, Mitchell Associates Architects, PLLC. “It is highly unusual for a facility to receive awards from both organizations, and a testament to Peekskill’s foresight in allowing a project of this caliber.”

Designed with the City’s past and the future in mind, the new headquarters features a durable exterior of natural stone and brick with copper roof flashings and trim. The building materials, shaped to reflect other existing structures in Peekskill, create a timeless streetscape for the centrally-located building that serves as a new gateway to the city.

The energy-efficient building is also designed as a permanent structure – not a 50- to 100-year facility. In appearance and materials, it is a physical reminder of the City’s investment in its first responders and the community.

The City of Peekskill is located at 840 Main Street in Peekskill, N.Y., and can be reached at 914-737-3400 or by visiting www.cityofpeekskill.com.

About the City of Peekskill

The City of Peekskill is a thriving, historic community located on the banks of the Hudson River. Just under one hour north of New York City, Peekskill is culturally and economically vibrant with abundant natural resources due to its location on the river and at the gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The City’s pedestrian-friendly downtown is buzzing with an array of dining and entertainment establishments. Offering artist lofts, studios, galleries and museums, Peekskill is home to a growing arts community and has no shortage of arts activities. The waterfront, with over three miles of continuous parkland, is a regional destination with a variety of active and passive recreation, as well as breathtaking views of the Hudson River. For more information, visit www.cityofpeekskill.com.