FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2019 – Sterling, VA
Loudoun residents can feel secure in knowing that the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department is keeping up with the growing needs of its community. Groundbreaking began July 8 on Arcola’s renovation of the old Company 9 building on Gum Springs Road. The project is scheduled to be completed next summer and will house additional equipment for improved service, as well as serve as training and educational space for the department and as a resource for the community.
The building to be renovated was the original station of the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department, housing the department from its inception until 2013 when it moved to its current location on Belmont Ridge Road.
Mike Gordon, Director-At-Large of the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department kicked off the event, which drew current and past members, reminiscing about the buildings past and how it will be utilized in the future. “It has been a long process, but all our hard work and collaboration has brought us to today,” said Gordon. “We look forward to this new facility, and how it will allow us to further serve the community.”
FGMA (formerly LeMay Erickson Willcox Architects), who has worked with the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department over the past five years, across three different sites, was in attendance for the groundbreaking. “The building, which has undergone several additions over the years, will have a new exterior expression that ties the different additions together into one unified building expression. Also, as a part of the renovation and addition, the Annex creates handicap accessibility by providing a new building entrance with an elevator and wheelchair lift to navigate the second floor.” Said Matthew I. Fadel, AIA, LEED AP of FGMA.
The renovation incorporates “Hot Zone” design strategies by organizing the gathering and administrative spaces together on the second floor, above the apparatus bay spaces. “The Annex layout will be more efficient and serve the Volunteers well into the future,” said Fadel. “We have been honored to work with the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department and are excited that the years of strong leadership from the Volunteers have allowed them to turn their vision into reality, with construction now underway.”
Founded in 1957, Arcola Volunteer Fire Department is a volunteer Fire & Rescue company in Southeastern Loudoun County, Virginia. Part of a combined system, Arcola VFD works with Loudoun County Fire & Rescue to provide prompt, professional and compassionate response to citizens and visitors fire and medical emergencies.
Photo by Scott Philben, Arcola VFD. Left to right: Hal Cogan, Patner Construction, Assistant Fire Chief Pat Reid, AVFD, Rescue Chief Kymber Weese, AVFD, Vice President Dawn McKenna, AVFD, Director Mike Gordon, AVFD, Christopher Kehde, FGMA (formerly LeMay Erickson Willcox Architects)