Barrie Fire and Emergency Services Station #1

Standing at the edge of Barrie’s downtown core, Station 1 announces itself not with height or ornament, but with purpose: a 24/7 headquarters where emergency response, communications, training, and community life intersect under one resilient roof.

Located on the former Dunlop Arena brownfield site, the approximately 36,800 sq. ft. Barrie Fire & Emergency Services Station 1 anchors a key gateway into the city. Designed by Salter Pilon Architecture in association with Lett Architects, the facility consolidates all five branches of the department—suppression, prevention, training, communications, and administration—into a single, coordinated hub. The main level organizes five drive-through apparatus bays alongside SCBA, compressor, bunker gear, tool and laundry rooms, with dedicated dorms, lockers, fitness spaces, kitchen, dining, lounge, platoon chief offices and a training classroom tailored to the rhythms of shift life.

Above, the second floor functions as the brain of the City’s emergency network. A state-of-the-art Emergency Communications Centre, complete with dispatch floor, support offices, and the fire chief and deputy chiefs’ suites, manages 911 calls not only for Barrie, but for 11 surrounding communities across the region. The building also serves as the City’s Emergency Operations Centre and is designed to post-disaster performance standards, ensuring continuity of operations when the community needs it most.

From the outset, a project visioning session with Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention, Communications, Administration, City staff and the design team established a clear ambition: a welcoming, community-focused building that celebrates the tradition and pride of the fire service while embracing the future. This vision is woven through the architecture. The original 1874 station bell was restored, electrified, and set atop a new bell tower as a daily reminder of service and history. A traditional fire pole anchors the main lobby, and material salvaged from the demolished Dunlop Arena—heavy timber trusses and even the centre-ice faceoff circle—was repurposed into custom millwork, furniture, and the entry threshold, preserving the community’s collective memory in tangible, everyday ways.

Station 1 was designed and delivered to achieve LEED Silver for both design and performance, pairing energy efficiency with durable, low-maintenance systems that support round-the-clock operations. Daylight, robust building envelopes, and thoughtful material selections contribute to a healthy workplace for firefighters and staff, while also reinforcing the City’s sustainability objectives.

A true piece of city-building for Barrie, Station 1 strengthens the downtown edge while welcoming residents in. Its prominent corner siting, generous glazed façades, and clearly defined public entrance contribute to a safer, more walkable streetscape and signal the presence of essential services at the heart of the city. The restored bell tower and interpretive elements recalling the former Dunlop Arena help tie past and present together, creating a recognizable landmark along a key gateway corridor. Inside, public-facing spaces, educational displays and glimpses into the daily life of the station foster transparency and civic pride. For the City of Barrie, the project represents a successful transformation of a brownfield site into a resilient, post-disaster facility that not only supports emergency response, but also advances an urban vision centred on livability, heritage, and community connection.