Asheville Unveils New Design for Oakley Fire Station 9

Asheville officials have released a new design direction for Oakley Fire Station 9, outlining a contemporary, energy efficient facility intended to strengthen emergency response coverage in the growing Oakley neighborhood.

Modern Facility Planned for Oakley Neighborhood

Publicly available project documents for Oakley Fire Station 9 describe a new 2.5 bay fire station planned for 711 Fairview Road in Asheville’s Oakley neighborhood. The facility is intended to replace aging fire infrastructure and provide additional coverage for a part of the city that continues to see residential and commercial growth.

The design materials indicate that the station will be configured to accommodate modern fire apparatus and updated safety standards. The 2.5 bay layout is expected to allow the department to stage multiple vehicles and specialized equipment, improving flexibility for a range of fire and medical calls originating in southeast Asheville.

City procurement records show that the work is being delivered as a new construction project on an existing city owned site. The Oakley location positions the station within close reach of major corridors and neighborhood streets, with the goal of shortening response times for surrounding homes, schools, and businesses.

According to project descriptions, the station is also being framed as a visible public safety anchor within Oakley, with a design that seeks to balance operational needs with a scale and character compatible with adjacent residential blocks.

Design Timeline and Construction Phasing

Documents associated with the Oakley Fire Station 9 Request for Qualifications indicate that design work is structured as a multi year effort. Preliminary schedules released with addenda outline a design phase beginning in mid 2025, followed by an anticipated construction start in late 2026, leading into an 18 month build period.

That timeline places the Oakley project among several significant capital improvements in Asheville, as the city coordinates infrastructure upgrades across transportation, public safety, and public space projects. The extended schedule is intended to allow for detailed coordination of site civil work, building systems, and emergency access requirements before crews begin construction.

Project documents describe an approach that sequences design, permitting, and procurement to limit service disruptions for residents near the Fairview Road site. The future station is planned as a replacement facility, but the city’s broader fire coverage network is expected to remain active throughout the construction period through existing stations and interim deployment strategies.

The use of a phased schedule also reflects the complexity of modern fire station construction, particularly for buildings that must meet strict safety, durability, and environmental performance targets while operating continuously once opened.

Budget, Sustainability and Performance Goals

An addendum to the city’s procurement materials identifies a total project budget of approximately 10.9 million dollars covering design through construction for Oakley Fire Station 9. The budget framework aligns the station with contemporary standards for essential public facilities that must remain operational during severe weather and other emergency events.

The project language references commissioning and certification requirements that are typically associated with high performance building programs. The material points to the use of an independent commissioning agent structure that is compatible with green building rating systems, signaling an emphasis on energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and long term operating savings.

For residents, that focus is likely to translate into a station with modern mechanical systems, improved lighting, and better thermal performance compared with older fire facilities. From the city’s perspective, the investment in efficiency and durability is positioned as a way to reduce lifecycle costs while supporting a reliable emergency response network.

As Asheville continues to experience both population growth and climate related stresses, the Oakley station’s design parameters are being framed as part of a broader effort to build resilient civic infrastructure that can function in challenging conditions.

Neighborhood Integration and Site Considerations

The project description for Oakley Fire Station 9 highlights the importance of fitting the new facility into its residential context along Fairview Road. Planning materials reference the need to address traffic circulation, noise, and access, while maintaining the ability for fire vehicles to enter and exit the site quickly and safely.

Design documentation indicates that site planning will account for apparatus turning movements, dedicated staff parking, and pedestrian safety. The intent is to keep emergency routes clear, while also managing the station’s interface with sidewalks, nearby homes, and local businesses in the Oakley area.

Publicly available information points to a focus on durable exterior materials and a building form scaled to the immediate surroundings. While the new station will be a prominent civic structure, the design direction seeks to avoid an industrial character in favor of an appearance that can sit comfortably within a neighborhood setting.

Landscaping, lighting, and stormwater controls are expected to be key components of the final site plan. These elements are typically used in Asheville projects to soften building edges, manage runoff on sloped sites, and provide safer walking conditions during early morning and late night emergency responses.

Role in Asheville’s Evolving Fire Network

Asheville’s investment in a redesigned Oakley Fire Station 9 comes at a time when communities across the region are expanding and updating fire infrastructure to match changing risks and development patterns. Capital plans in Western North Carolina and beyond increasingly emphasize the replacement of smaller, outdated stations with facilities that can handle more diverse equipment and training functions.

Within that context, the Oakley station is expected to play a strategic role in distributing coverage on the city’s east and southeast side. Its location near key roadways provides access not only to Oakley, but also to adjacent neighborhoods that rely on quick response times for structure fires, medical calls, and traffic incidents.

Planning materials suggest that the new station design will allow for future technology integration, including upgraded communications and data systems, which can support coordinated operations across Asheville’s fire network. Space planning also takes into account the need for modern firefighter health and wellness features, such as decontamination areas and improved separation between living quarters and apparatus bays.

As work on design and procurement continues, the Oakley Fire Station 9 project is emerging as one of the city’s most visible public safety investments, signaling a long term commitment to serving residents in a neighborhood that has seen steady change over the past decade.