The Richmond Fire Department is celebrating a significant milestone after one of its newly constructed stations was selected as the 2026 winner for the American Public Works Association (APWA) Project of the Year Award. 

Fire Station 12, the city’s oldest operating station, reopened last year after 1.6 years of construction. The redevelopment involved the complete demolition of the previous structure and construction of a modern, highly functional fire station on the same historic site.  

Sustainability was at the forefront of Station 12’s redevelopment, designing a fire station with both present needs and long-term performance in mind. From the earliest design phase, the project focused on the important foundational aspects of energy and water conservation, as well as creating healthier indoor environments.  

“Earning this recognition is a significant milestone for our department,” said  Richmond Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal . “Our job is to protect people, including our firefighters, and Station 12 reflects that. It’s safer, healthier, and built for the future.” 

Advanced ventilation systems to help improve indoor air quality, specialized exhaust systems in the apparatus bay to help reduce firefighters’ exposure to harmful contaminants, and living and working areas designed to limit the spread of pollutants from equipment were some of the key features incorporated into the design of the station. The contractor for the project also took extra steps to protect nearby storm drains and recycle as much demolition waste as possible during construction. 

“A lot of work goes into a project like this that people don’t always see,” said  Gail Johnson, Director of the Department of General Services . “The redevelopment of Station 12 shows what’s possible when sustainability is built in from the very start.” 

These efforts helped Fire Station 12 earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, a nationally recognized sustainability designation from the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) rating system. This is the first time the City of Richmond has received a gold designation.  

“RVAgreen 2050 is about how we reduce our environmental impact and build a more resilient city over time,” said  Laura Thomas, Director of the Office of Sustainability . “Projects like this are where those goals start to take shape in a real, tangible way, and we’re proud to see that reflected in a facility that supports our fire department.”