Durham is getting a new fire and EMS station at a cost of over $29 million. The budget for Station 19 is far larger than that of other nearby fire stations, but City Council members say higher quality construction and long-term energy cost savings make the steep price tag worth it.
“I think some fire stations are extremely expensive and some are really quite the opposite…,” said councilman Nate Baker. “Sometimes you need to pay a little more upfront to get a better return in the long run.”
Durham’s new station will cost about $969 per square foot, whereas neighboring counties have added stations recently at a lower cost. Zebulon Station, a 24,000 square foot facility in Wake County, began construction in October at a cost of $17 million, or about $707 per square foot. Waterstone Station, a 12,800 square foot facility in Orange County, opened 2023 and cost roughly $6.64 million to build, or $519 per square foot.
The city and county will split the total project cost, with the city paying $19 million and the county contributing $10 million.
City Council approved the latest plans for Station 19 at a work session on Jan. 8. The station will be located on Davis Drive near the intersection with Highway 54. The station is in the design stage and is projected to open in Summer 2027.
The construction of a new station is part of Durham Fire Department’s attempt to improve services in response to local criticism regarding slow response times and strained emergency services, according to Baker. Baker also emphasized the need for larger fire stations like Station 19, a nearly 30,000 square foot facility, with classroom facilities to handle department-wide training.
In a press conference on Dec. 29, Fire Chief Robert Zoldos noted that Station 19 is part of the city’s effort to accommodate a growing Durham population.
The building will be fully electric and powered by renewable energy, relying on solar and geothermal sources, according to Jessica Killian, a senior project manager with the city. Baker said the facility’s energy-efficient infrastructure will have long-term cost savings, and that the quality of the construction will increase the lifespan of the fire station.
At the work session, Council member Carl Rist praised the building’s energy infrastructure as well.
“This is the first major construction project that has now aligned our construction goals with our goals in the Climate Action Plan,” said Rist. “I think this is a great step.”
Above: A rendering of Fire Station 19 by adw architects. Image courtesy of the City of Durham.
Halle Vazquez
