Design work moves forward on expansion of North End Fire Station in Tumwater

The expansion of the North End Fire Station in Tumwater is entering its next phase.

The Tumwater City Council authorized Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff on Tuesday, March 17, to sign a $776,375 contract with architecture firm Rice Fergus Miller to oversee completion of the project. 

The firm was originally hired in early 2025 for preliminary design and cost estimates.  

Facilities Manager Chris Graham said preliminary design work has been completed, so the new contract covers work for the development of the complete design and construction documents.

Rice Fergus Miller would then take the project to permitting and bidding before providing administrative support during construction. 

Though it is the city’s intent to complete the project, Graham said the contract was written so that the city would only be responsible for fees during specific phases when reached. 

Located at Linwood Avenue, the North End Fire Station was originally built in 1995 as a volunteer response facility. 

According to documents prepared for the meeting, the station has been able to accommodate three full-time responders but now requires upgrades to accommodate Thurston County Medic One’s eighth unit, which has been based at the station since late 2024. 

The proposed expansion would add more than 3,200 square feet to the existing 5,013-square-foot building.

According to cost estimates, base construction is estimated at $4.5 million, with HVAC and electrical systems pushing the final cost to around $5.1 million