Mesa Fire Station No. 218 is a 3-bay station with facilities for 8 full-time fire fighters. The station contains a fitness room for fire personnel, support areas for fire apparatus and a community room for the surrounding public to use. LEED concepts and principals were incorporated into this new building to decrease the department’s operational costs. The new design is the department’s city wide prototype for future stations. Along with meeting the department’s mission of serving the community, the design embraced and blended with its surroundings, symbolizing the department’s commitment to the community. Mesa Fire Station 218’s adjacent neighborhoods are over 40 years old, and primarily consist of one-story ranch style architecture. It was important to make sure this building fit within its surroundings. A combination of proper massing, color and materials were needed. Having the community involved from the beginning has made this project very rewarding for all involved. The fire department was compelled to be good neighbors, to bring the public into the design process from the very beginning. It’s a fitting tribute to the fire department’s commitment to the community.