Ann Arbor is finally getting a new fire station, and this one is designed to look as forward-thinking as the emergencies it will answer. Fire Station 4 is nearing completion after decades of service from the aging building it replaces. The project is expected to bring a cleaner, safer and more inclusive facility to the city’s south side by this fall.
The replacement station is the first new firehouse Ann Arbor has built since 1981, according to CBS Detroit’s update. The new facility is expected to become operational by October 2026, giving firefighters a modern base after years of working out of a station built in 1966.
The City of Ann Arbor says the project will be its first carbon-neutral facility and Michigan’s first net-zero fire station. Solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, and other energy-efficiency measures are intended to help the building produce as much energy as it uses while reducing its long-term operating footprint.
A Fire Station Built For Modern Crews
The new Station 4 is also being designed around the realities of a changing fire department. CBS Detroit reports that the building will include gender-neutral bedrooms and bathroom facilities, a notable upgrade from the old station’s layout.
That change is especially significant because Ann Arbor has had female firefighters for decades, even though the existing station was not designed with an integrated, contemporary workforce in mind. The city has said the new building will provide more appropriate sleeping, showering and bathroom areas for all personnel, along with better space for modern firefighting equipment.
The city also plans to name the new station in honor of Mindy Kerr, Ann Arbor’s first female firefighter, according to a City of Ann Arbor announcement. The project includes a new basketball court at nearby Scheffler Park, adding a small neighborhood amenity to what is otherwise a very large public-safety investment.
Construction Hit A Snag Before Moving Forward
The project has not been completely smooth sailing. Earlier this year, WEMU reported that a foundation layout error delayed part of the construction schedule, but crews had since erected the steel structure and roof decking and begun drilling wells for the geothermal system.
Ann Arbor City Council approved a $10.63 million construction contract with Granger Construction and appropriated $12.42 million for the project, according to the city’s public meeting records. The new station will also improve emergency vehicle access near South Huron Parkway and Platt Road, where the existing site has a roadway blind corner.
A Long-Delayed Upgrade For A Busy Department
The timing matters for a department that is handling more calls with an aging network of buildings. The Ann Arbor Fire Department’s history says annual incident volume topped 13,000 in 2025, while ambulance transports reached 1,000.
Station 4 opened in 1966, and Station 6 became the last new Ann Arbor fire station when it opened in 1981. If the current schedule holds, the new facility will soon replace one of the city’s oldest emergency-response buildings with a station intended to serve firefighters and residents for the next several decades.
The city’s project page lists fall 2026 as the completion target, with October now identified as the expected operational date. After 45 years without a new fire station, Ann Arbor is finally close to getting one that is built for the next era rather than the last one.
