The City of Ann Arbor is taking a major step toward its climate goals with the upcoming rebuild of Fire Station 4, which will be the first net-zero fire station in Michigan. The project, part of the city's broader A2Zero carbon neutrality initiative, is slated to begin in May and will span approximately 14 months.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) plans to completely demolish and reconstruct the existing fire station on its current site, located in Ward 3. During the construction period, the station will not be operational, though fire protection services in the area will continue through support from nearby stations.

Before settling on the rebuild, the department explored various options to reduce the building’s carbon footprint, including remodeling and relocation. However, according to Fire Chief Mike Kennedy, those alternatives were deemed unfeasible.

“So the first question was, we have several stations (with) this being the worst that needs to be redone and basically demolished, could we remodel that?” Kennedy said. “That would have been a lot cheaper and that came back as a resounding no. There were way too many structural issues. And then we also did GIS modeling to determine ‘is it in the right location,’ and that came back as an absolute yes. It’s in a great location.”

With construction taking place on-site, the surrounding community will temporarily lack a fire station within immediate reach. City Councilmember Travis Radina (D-Ward 3) acknowledged the short-term challenges this might pose but emphasized the city's focus on long-term improvements to emergency response.

“Obviously long term, which is the goal here, this will hopefully improve service in the area,” Radina said. “In the short term, during the construction period, we are preparing for some impact. We will have slightly longer response times during the construction period. I know that staff and chief Kennedy worked really hard to try to find ways that we could minimize that disruption.”

Chief Kennedy addressed potential concerns from residents, noting that while response times might vary, AAFD has developed contingency plans to ensure service continues smoothly. This includes shifting personnel and equipment to different stations across the city.

“I can’t say (the response is) going to be two minutes or three minutes,” Kennedy said. “It’s going to depend on traffic, weather, snow, all sorts of things. So we’re really trying to do the best we can. …The crew that’s at station 4 is being moved to downtown and then we currently have an ambulance that’s downtown that is being moved to the station by Briarwood.”

Despite the temporary disruption, some local leaders believe the project is being met with optimism by residents. City Councilmember Jon Mallek (D-Ward 2), who lives close to Station 4, said the excitement about the new station outweighs any concerns.

“I haven’t heard any concern specifically about the potential change in response times,” Mallek said. “I have heard a lot of excitement about a new fire station. One of my neighbors mentioned that they lived in Ann Arbor for decades, and they can remember when the last fire station was built. … So from that perspective, they’re really excited about a new station.”

The project’s design highlights sustainability as a central feature, with plans for geothermal heating and cooling, as well as solar panels to power the station. Kennedy said the goal is to make the new facility energy self-sufficient.

“This is going to be the first net-zero fire station in the state of Michigan,” Kennedy said. “So it’s going to have geothermal and solar power with the idea that it’s making as much power as it’s using throughout the course of the year. So that’s another big improvement.”

The forward-thinking design has also caught the attention of students and advocates of urban sustainability. Levi Barense, a freshman at the University of Michigan and vice president of programming for the Urbanism Club, said the fire station could serve as an environmental example for other projects.

“If there’s a piece of a community that is pushing for environmentally friendly practices, like the fire station is doing, it might provide a beacon for that community and create more eco-friendly efforts in that area as a whole,” Barense said.

In addition to its green focus, the new fire station will include modern, inclusive staff facilities designed to accommodate the department’s increasingly diverse workforce. Councilmember Radina noted the importance of updating infrastructure to meet today’s standards of equity and access.

As construction gets underway, the Ann Arbor community is watching closely, hopeful that the project not only enhances public safety but also sets a new standard for sustainable municipal development.

Originally reported by Mya Weiss and Zooey Raus in The Michigan Daily.