Fire Station 1 District Headquarters

Eriksson Engineering Associates, Ltd. (EEA) provided civil engineering services for the new Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire District Headquarters Station 1. The $13 million dollar project included a 18,700 square-foot building that is staffed 24/7 by personnel. The building and site include an entry with a historic fire engine, 4 drive-thru bays, a parking lot, and access to a county roadway. The site was planned and designed for a future burn pad and burn tower. Multiple sites were studied, and 10N255 Dittman Road was ultimately chosen for its large open land area and central location within the district.

EEA was able to overcome the site’s challenging poor and sandy soils by recognizing the challenge early on in the site selection process and working with the design team and owner to find a solution that the owner could build into the construction budget.

A large farmed depressional wetland is located immediately north of the site and the wetland’s stormwater discharge was treated as bypass through the site by an EEA designed bioswale. The site also includes an extension of a sewer line from the site to nearby Bowes Creek, in addition to a septic field designed by EEA. The project was designed to accommodate the District’s future needs, including a burn pad, burn tower and other training elements.

EEA coordinated all necessary site permits, in addition to seeking approvals from the Kane County Department of Transportation, Department of Environment, and Public Health.