Context Architecture

Project Highlight

Belmont Fire Headquarters & Substation in Belmont, Massachusetts
Size: 21,900 sq. ft. (H.Q.) / 16,600 sq. ft. (Substation)
Status: Completed in 2007

Analysis of seventeen different sites and a thorough response time study determined that two strategically located stations could replace three aging, obsolete facilities and better meet the community needs. The Headquarters building sits on a busy artery through the Town and recalls elements of its predecessor stations with a form that echoes hose-drying towers from earlier firefighting days. With five apparatus and vehicle bays on the ground floor, this station provides extensive department training, meeting, and office space, as well as crew quarters, dining, recreation, and fitness areas.

The substation, built on the site of a municipal parking lot and local bus hub, occupies a prominent corner location at the entrance to Belmont Center’s compact retail area.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.
https://www.contextarc.com/belmont-fire-headquarters-substation

Photography: Richard Mandelkorn

Project Highlight

Lewiston Fire Substation in Lewiston, Maine
Completed in 2021
New Construction

Fire Station #4 is the first of the three, outdated sub-stations to be repaired in the Town of Lewiston. The new station has three drive-through bays, a storage loft, as well as modern support spaces with a separation of living and working that promotes healthy conditions. In the building’s living area there are dormitory rooms; a study room; a kitchen; a dining room, and a spacious day room. A large fitness room off the fire fighter’s entry was designed to be used by all members of the Lewiston Fire Department.

The fitness facility and the inclusion of fire fighter training facilities (inside and outside of the building) are added features that make this station a model of Lewiston’s effort to bring its fire stations into the twenty-first century.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.
https://www.contextarc.com/lewiston-fire-substation

Photography: Brian Vanden Brink

Project Highlight

Newbury Police Station in Newbury, Massachusetts
Completed in 2021
New Construction

Context was commissioned to assist the Town of Newbury with the design of a new police station. Our team worked with the Police Station Building Committee to identify their station’s needs and develop a program that could accommodate a relatively tight budget. The finished project—built on the Town Hall’s former site—includes a training room; dispatch center; a secure area for processing of prisoners and detention; men’s and women’s locker spaces; various office spaces, and a full attic area for future expansion needs.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.
https://www.contextarc.com/newbury-police-station

Photography: Andy Caulfied

Project Highlight

Worcester Webster Square Fire Station in Worcester, Massachusetts
Status: Completed in 2002

This 15,000 sq. ft. firefighting facility stands on the site of an earlier 7,000 sq. ft. fire station built in 1893 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Firefighters have three drive-through apparatus bays, a large community meeting/department training room, state-of-the-art communications systems, a fitness area, and a special emergency washroom. The new station is also the first in Worcester designed to accommodate female firefighters.

Given the historical significance of the site and the original building, the new design is respectful of the old in many ways. The lines and proportions of the new building are faithful to the old, as is the use of building materials: red and yellow brick, granite foundation, copper gutters, and a slate roof.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.
https://www.contextarc.com/webster-square-fire-station

Photography: Richard Mandelkorn

Our firm is proud to have designed over 50 public safety buildings for municipalities across New England. We understand the pressure to upgrade aging facilities, and are well-versed in presenting this need to the public. Our firm works hard to create beautiful, cost-effective buildings that will become landmarks for their communities for years to come.

Project Highlight

Brookline Public Safety Building in Brookline, Massachusetts
Completed in 2002
Restoration / New Construction

Brookline’s Police and Fire Stations are located on adjacent sites at the Town’s civic heart along the busy Washington Street. Both buildings are also in close proximity to Town Hall, the main library, and a courthouse. The program called for a complete reorganization and expansion of both facilities and the design of a new connecting “link” building that would be sympathetic to the historic fire station, and capable of housing shared spaces for both departments. This link creates much-needed space for shared uses, including records, reception, and a meeting room while also providing a clear, accessible, and welcome public entrance along the urban streetscape. The fully glazed exterior provides increased transparency and reinforces the individuality of the two existing buildings.

The final program contains Police and Fire administration, a state-of-the-art combined Police, Fire and EMS dispatch center, locker rooms, a fitness center, and a new third floor to the Police Station component.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.

https://www.contextarc.com/brookline-public-safety-building

Photography: Richard Mandelforn

Project Highlight

Whitman Police Station in Whitman, Massachusetts
Completed in 2011
New Construction

With several issues including code compliance and lack of accessibility, Whitman’s old police station was squeezed into 7,500 sq. ft. in the Town Hall’s backside. Context Architecture developed a program for a new, 17,000 sq. ft. facility located just off the Town’s common. The two-story building provides an efficient, accessible site complex that accommodates a range of police functions including dispatch, lock-up training, community relations, and easy public access separate from police vehicles. After presenting the study, our firm completed the programming, design, and construction documents in less than six months, as the Town wanted to move forward quickly. Construction was finished in less than twelve.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.

https://www.contextarc.com/whitman-police-station

Photography: Richard Mandelkorn

Project Highlight

Andover BallardVale Fire Station in Andover, Massachusetts
Status: Completed in 2021

Context Architecture is pleased to announce that the recently completed Andover BallardVale Fire Station received a Project Achievement Award from the Construction Management Association of America, New England Chapter (CMAA-NE), for exemplary construction management and construction administration. Thank you PMA Consultants, for your exceptional services.

The new station in BallardVale’s Historic District has a three-bay apparatus garage that replaces the old one-bay station, with new crew quarters and a training room (tripling the capacity of the existing conditions). Our design team worked closely with the Town’s Historic District Committee to integrate this new station with the Town’s unique historical context.

Our services also included significant involvement with the public approvals process—attending dozens of public meetings to provide information about the project. Our team worked hard to make sure that the Town was well-informed. The tight-knit BallardVale neighborhood felt listened to, and the project successfully passed Town Meeting.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.

https://www.contextarc.com/andover-ballardvale-fire-station

Photography: Andy Caulfield

Project Highlight

Christ Congregational Church in Brockton, Massachusetts
Completed in 2000
New Construction

Following the distinguishing traditional style of New England Congregational churches, this building needs no sign to identify its use. Honest, straightforward, and unpretentious, its design draws from the notion of worship as a collective activity. Special attention was brought to the 400-seat sanctuary, composing a strong sense of unity as well as highlighting interactions and experiences amongst visitors. Filled with light, the sanctuary perfectly depicts a sense of "oneness"; turning it 45 degrees provided a distinctive quality that allows for an open integration of supporting spaces—the chapel, chancel, organ/choir space, and narthex. Other features of the building include a library, fellowship hall, kitchen, classrooms, and offices.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.

https://www.contextarc.com/christ-congregational-church

Photography: Steve Rosenthal

Project Highlight

Westbrook Public Safety Complex in Westbrook, Maine
Completed in 2005
New Construction

Having outgrown aging, separate quarters, the public safety departments serving the City of Westbrook opted to build a shared facility. Context Architecture was hired to conduct a feasibility study and site selection, which involved analysis of six potential sites, with one in the city center being selected for the project.

This new 40,000 sq. ft. facility brings four separate departments into one building. The complex houses Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Communications all under one roof. The project utilized a Construction Manager at Risk procurement method, which allowed the client to benefit from a construction manager’s experience with design and pricing prior to bidding trade work, as well as allowing the CM to become familiar with the project prior to construction. This process led to savings, reduced change orders, and improved overall project delivery.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.

https://www.contextarc.com/westbrook-public-safety-complex

Photography: Brian Vanden Brink

Andover Public Safety Center in Andover, Massachusetts
Completed in 2004
New Construction

After completing a feasibility study for the Town of Andover, Context was hired to design the new public safety complex. This facility houses the police and fire departments; Emergency Medical Response; a firing range; as well as a tiered meeting and training room that can also serve as the town’s Emergency Management Operations Center. A dramatic 2-story lobby with slate flooring, maple paneling, and split-faced masonry connects the fire and police departments while providing a welcoming public entryway. All public interaction occurs in this lobby area, maintaining the security of the rest of the building.

Located in the Town’s center, the site of the new building was tight with a 25-inch vertical elevation change. Context took advantage of this condition to provide terraced parking and an exposed lower level, which contains the firing range, two vehicle and evidence storage garages, and a private entryway for both departments.

Visit the link below for more information on this project.

https://www.contextarc.com/andover-public-safety-center

Photography: Bruce T. Martin