For more than 30 years, Kitchell has been on the front lines of designing and constructing facilities that safeguard communities—fire stations, training centers, and emergency response hubs that serve as lifelines across California and the Southwest. These projects aren’t just buildings; they’re anchors of protection, resilience, and readiness.
It all began in 1994 with the City of Alhambra Fire Station No. 74. Rising from the site of a historic station damaged by an earthquake, the $8.4 million, 6,050-square-foot facility honored its past by preserving original bricks, signage, and decorative concrete—while adding modern dormitories, apparatus bays, and public spaces. This balance of heritage and innovation became a hallmark of Kitchell’s approach.
Since then, Kitchell has delivered more than $1.1 billion in public safety construction, partnering with cities and counties to create purpose-built spaces like:
- City of Chandler – Fire Station 282 Reconstruction, Chandler, AZ
- City of Tempe – Fire Medical Rescue Station No. 2, Tempe, AZ
- City of Novato – Fire Station 64, Novato, CA
- Contra Costa County – Fire Stations 86, 90, 94, 16, 9 & 70, CA
- City of Hayward – Fire Station 6 and Regional Fire Training Center, CA
- Madera County – Fire Station 3, CA
- City of Costa Mesa – Fire Station 1, CA
- San Luis Obispo County – Co-Located Dispatch Facility, Templeton, CA
That legacy continues today with multiple public safety projects underway, including the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community – Fire Station #295 in Scottsdale, AZ by the Au’ Authum Ki | Kitchell joint venture. Spanning 79,746 square feet, the new station and resource building blends innovation, functionality, and cultural pride to enhance emergency response, wellness, and training for the Salt River Fire Department.
Some of Kitchell’s most notable projects push beyond single-use design. The 44,000-square-foot LEED Gold San Rafael Public Safety Center co-locates fire, police, EMS, and dispatch services under one roof. The $61.5 million City of Hayward Fire Station and Regional Training Center features nine new structures designed for operational readiness, advanced training, and resilience.
“Fire chiefs want a facility that will last 50 to 60 years and support the well-being of their crews,” says Bill Johal, Kitchell’s public safety expert and Senior Vice President. “We’ve trained our teams to walk onto these projects ready to deliver from day one. We bring the discipline, the know-how, and the experience to get it right.”
Kitchell’s design-build expertise is shaped by direct feedback from veteran fire officials like Mark Heine, a long-time collaborator and Retired Fire Chief. This ensures every project addresses the evolving needs of modern fire departments—gender-inclusive living quarters, decontamination zones, and sustainable systems like rooftop solar.
From the first brick laid in Alhambra to state-of-the-art dispatch centers and multi-functional safety hubs, Kitchell’s public safety facilities are built with technical precision, operational insight, and an unwavering commitment to the communities they serve. They’re made to perform today—and endure for generations.