Asheville Unveils Design Concept for New Fire Station 9

The City of Asheville has introduced a design concept for a new Fire Station 9 in the Oakley neighborhood, presenting early plans for a modern facility intended to replace the current station and expand emergency response capacity in East Asheville.

Modern Replacement Planned for Oakley’s Fire Station 9

Publicly available information from recent capital project briefings and bid documents indicates that the new Fire Station 9 will be built at 711 Fairview Road as part of a broader Oakley Public Safety Complex. The project is structured as a replacement for the existing Station 9, which currently operates nearby on Fairview Road and has been identified as needing more space and updated facilities.

City capital planning materials describe the first phase of the Oakley complex as centered on a new fire station, while a subsequent phase will convert the existing station at the Murphy-Oakley Community Center into an East Asheville police resource facility. Reports indicate that the move will effectively swap fire and police locations in the neighborhood to better match current operational needs.

Procurement notices show that Asheville has been seeking architectural and commissioning services to advance the design, signaling a shift from preliminary planning into more detailed project development. Those documents describe the initiative as a new construction project that will give the fire department a purpose-built home designed around contemporary standards for safety, resiliency, and sustainable building performance.

Project summaries presented to Asheville City Council outline an anticipated design and community engagement period extending through the coming year, followed by a construction start targeted for the latter part of the decade. Construction is expected to span roughly a year and a half once ground is broken, according to those published timelines.

Key Features of the Proposed Design Concept

The design concept emerging in public documents centers on a 2.5-bay fire station configured to serve multiple units and a safety leadership role. A commissioning description for the project notes plans for two full-size apparatus bays, plus an additional half-size bay suitable for a passenger vehicle or specialized support unit, reflecting an emphasis on flexible response capability.

Supporting spaces outlined in bid specifications include nine sleeping quarters as well as kitchen, dining, and dayroom areas to accommodate 24-hour staffing. Plans also call for restrooms, showers, and locker rooms, together with a dedicated gym and laundry facilities, underscoring an intent to improve day-to-day working conditions and support firefighter health and wellness.

Project materials reference the goal of achieving at least LEED Gold design, with commissioning services covering mechanical, electrical, plumbing, building envelope, and photovoltaic systems. The inclusion of a solar array is highlighted in council briefings, aligning the concept with Asheville’s broader sustainability and energy-efficiency objectives.

Documentation describing the scope of work for design and commissioning notes that the station is being planned to support modern fire service operations, with attention to system reliability, redundancy, and post-occupancy performance review. Plans for functional testing, seasonal system checks, and a continuing commissioning strategy are built into the concept to help maintain long-term building performance.

Timeline, Budget Context, and Capital Planning

According to recent updates on capital improvements, the new Fire Station 9 is one of several public safety and infrastructure projects moving forward as Asheville works through a multi-year recovery and investment program. The fire station is listed within the city’s capital portfolio as a significant undertaking for the Oakley area, alongside greenway expansions and facility repairs elsewhere in the city.

A briefing summarized by local civic reporting platforms in late 2025 indicated that design and public engagement for the Oakley Civic Complex, including the new Station 9, are expected to continue into next year, with construction targeted for early 2027 and an estimated build duration of approximately 18 months. That schedule suggests an opening date in the late 2020s, pending final design, permitting, and contractor selection.

While specific budget figures for the new station have not been highlighted in the design concept announcements, the level of commissioning and sustainability work described points to a significant capital investment. The project is being advanced through standard public procurement processes, with requests for qualifications issued for architectural and commissioning teams and competitive selection anticipated before final design proceeds.

Observers of Asheville’s budget and planning process note that the new Fire Station 9 comes at a time when communities across North Carolina are reassessing the condition and capacity of their fire facilities. Many municipalities are replacing older stations with buildings that accommodate larger apparatus, improved decontamination areas, modern training spaces, and better separation between living quarters and operational zones.

Community Impacts and Service Coverage in East Asheville

For residents of the Oakley neighborhood and surrounding areas of East Asheville, the new Station 9 concept is framed as an opportunity to improve emergency coverage and bring public safety infrastructure in line with current and projected demand. The location at 711 Fairview Road, on a site currently associated with a police resource center, positions the fire station close to major neighborhood corridors and residential districts.

Publicly available descriptions of the Oakley Public Safety Complex emphasize that reorganizing fire and police facilities is intended to deliver more functional spaces for both services. By relocating fire operations to a purpose-built station and repurposing the existing fire building for police use, planners aim to reduce operational constraints and better match facility layouts with each department’s needs.

The design concept’s focus on LEED-oriented systems and a solar array is also viewed through a neighborhood lens, with the station expected to serve as a visible example of energy-conscious public construction. As Asheville responds to both growth and recovery challenges, the project illustrates how resilience, environmental performance, and public safety can be combined in a single civic investment.

While detailed architectural renderings and interior layouts have not yet been widely circulated, the scope described in procurement and capital documents suggests that the new Fire Station 9 will be larger, more technologically advanced, and better equipped than the facility it replaces. For travelers and observers of urban infrastructure, the project adds another layer to Asheville’s evolving built landscape, reflecting the city’s efforts to modernize essential services while maintaining a neighborhood-scale presence.

Next Steps for Design, Engagement, and Construction

In the near term, the City of Asheville is expected to refine the design concept through continued work with selected architectural and commissioning teams. Published requests for qualifications outline a process that includes pre-construction coordination, development of the owner’s project requirements and basis of design, and detailed plan and specification reviews through the design phase.

Capital project summaries indicate that community engagement will remain part of the process as design advances, in keeping with the city’s approach on other major civic projects. Opportunities for neighborhood input are anticipated to focus on site planning, traffic considerations, aesthetic character, and the relationship between the new station and surrounding streetscapes.

Once design reaches construction-ready documents, the project will move into contractor selection and site preparation, including any required relocation or adaptation of existing facilities on the 711 Fairview Road property. Construction sequencing will be shaped by the need to maintain fire coverage for East Asheville while the new station is built, a logistical consideration that often requires temporary adjustments to deployment patterns or interim facilities.

As Asheville’s new Fire Station 9 progresses from concept to reality, the project will be watched by residents, regional planners, and visitors interested in how mountain cities are updating critical infrastructure. The station is poised to become a prominent landmark along Fairview Road and a case study in how mid-sized destinations integrate sustainability, public safety, and neighborhood-oriented design into a single, highly visible civic project.