Fort Bend County ESD 4 Fulshear Simonton Central Fire Station

*2024 F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design Awards | Recognition Award

In the last decade, the Fulshear-Simonton area has transformed from a rural farming community to a bustling far-west Houston suburb with a population growth of more than 900%. Situated between the cities of Fulshear and Simonton, the Central Fire Station completes the first step of a master-planned, state-of-the-art fire administration and training complex.

At nearly 32,000 square feet, the Fulshear Simonton Central Fire Station serves as the disaster preparedness hub for its fast-growing, majority-residential community. Built to support the transition from volunteer to a career department, the station houses a crew of 13 firefighters and the Emergency Service District’s administrative offices. The station’s linear exterior design features deep overhangs and rich, tonal red brick. The interior blends sustainability, spatial efficiency, and a strong focus on firefighters’ wellbeing. The onsite training facilities are equipped with the technology required to convert into an EOC and backup dispatch center during a local crisis.

The station’s layout focuses on the wellness of firefighters. To reduce exposure to carcinogens, the station’s floor plan is organized into Hot/Warm/Cold hazard zones with dedicated decontamination areas. Multiple airlocks allow contaminated gear, equipment, and exhaust to be situated far away from the living areas of the station. To support firefighters’ mental health, the large, open-concept kitchen, dining, and dayroom in conjunction with the 2,000 SF exercise room, encourages camaraderie. Furthermore, outdoor patios provide places to decompress with access to fresh air, sunlight, and views of rolling, grassy hills.