Northeast Groundbreaking

Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District (NEAFD) and JEMA celebrate the groundbreaking of their new 28,000 sq. ft. Fire Headquarters. NEAFD, which serves seventeen municipalities in St. Louis County including the University of Missouri St. Louis and Express Scripts, is one of the busiest districts in all of St. Louis County.

The facility reflects the contextual heritage of the surrounding neighborhoods utilizing limestone, brick and slate. JEMA worked with Chief Quinten Randolph and his crew to develop the pioneering design, which features five drive-through apparatus bays, a community and training center, individual sleeping suites, and a storm shelter. To maximize response time, two fire poles, along with a communicating stair, provide exceptionally quick access from the upper floor to the apparatus bay.

The apparatus bay will have a perimeter glass clerestory that allows for abundant natural light throughout the day, reducing the need for artificial lighting and cutting the district’s energy consumption. The lower level contains a structurally hardened storm shelter that will act as a place of refuge for the community during storms and other natural disasters.