The City of Charlotte has broken ground for Firehouse 44, a two-story, three-bay, 14,000-square-foot firehouse that will serve the newly developed River District community near the Catawba River.
The structure will be the first mass timber firehouse in the Southeast, which will result in a lower carbon footprint and a warmer, natural appearance.
“More homes mean more residents. New roads, businesses and development bring more activity,” said Fire Chief Reginald T. Johnson. “With that growth comes increased demand for fire, rescue, and emergency medical response. Our responsibility is to make sure Charlotte Fire grows with the city as the city grows.”
The city is pursuing both International Living Future Institute’s Zero Carbon Certification and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for the facility.
It will be a 100% electric facility with numerous sustainability features:
-
ENERGY STAR® equipment and low-flow indoor water fixtures targeting 43% potable water savings.
-
A geothermal HVAC system and in-slab radiant heating replacing fuel- and gas-dependent fueling and climate control systems. This is the city’s first facility with a geothermal water heater.
-
A rooftop and ground-mounted photovoltaic system generating on-site energy and offsetting 100% of building energy costs.
“This firehouse is more than a building; it is an example of what it looks like when city leaders choose to model the future they want to create and city departments work together to make that vision reality,” said Chief Sustainability & Resilience Officer Heather Bolick. “Charlotte is proving that we don’t have to choose between serving our residents and meeting our sustainability goals. We can conserve as we serve.”
As with all firehouses around Charlotte, it is an investment in the city’s future and public safety. The $23.3 million project is being constructed by design-builder Samet Corp. with architectural services provided by ADW Architects.
The firehouse will meet the city’s Sustainable Facilities Policy and Fire Facilities Master Plan, all supporting the goals within the Strategic Energy Action Plan Plus. The new firehouse will fully support the sophisticated and time-sensitive operations of the Charlotte Fire Department.
To serve the area in the interim, a temporary firehouse opened adjacent to the permanent site on Dixie River Road in early 2026. A triple-wide trailer houses firefighters, and a pre-engineered building serves as an apparatus bay for the fire engine and emergency equipment.
Visit the Firehouse 44 project web page to learn more and watch the groundbreaking ceremony on YouTube.