GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Fire Department will have its first-ever site solely dedicated for training and emergency management operations by the spring of 2027.
On Thursday afternoon, Mayor David LaGrand and various lawmakers participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the $46 million complex on Pannell Road.
"This project represents the best of what we can get done with local, state and federal governments collaborating," Third District Congresswoman Hillary Scholten said at the shovel-turning ceremony.
Funding for the project comes from a state budget allocation of 15-million dollars, a federal grant and city bonds.
The project is being managed by Clark Construction and designed by Williams Architects and Pure Architects.
The City of Grand Rapids provided more details in a news release:
The groundbreaking ceremony took place at 850 Pannell Road NW and was attended by city and state leaders, including Mayor David LaGrand, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Senator Mark Huizenga, Representative Carol Glanville, City Manager Mark Washington and Fire Chief Brad Brown, along with GRFD personnel and community members.
This new facility will be the department’s first-ever site solely dedicated to training and emergency management operations. For decades, GRFD conducted most of its training in leased space within the Water Department building at 1101 Monroe Ave. NW, supplemented by a homemade burn building on Butterworth Street. With the riverfront site now slated for redevelopment and the department having outgrown its current space, the search for a permanent home began.
In March 2023, the city purchased 9.37 acres at the Pannell Road location for $1.925 million. Planning quickly followed for a modern, cost-effective complex designed to support multiple fire service disciplines, improve operational efficiency, and expand training opportunities.
The state-of-the-art project will include:
- 97,875 sq. ft. of main buildings housing training classrooms, maintenance areas, and a new Emergency Operations Center.
- A five-story exterior burn building, partially funded through a $1.5 million Federal Economic Development Authority grant.
Funding sources include $15 million from the State of Michigan, the federal grant and city-issued bonds.
The project is being managed by Clark Construction and designed by Williams Architects in partnership with Pure Architects.
“This new training center is a transformational project for both our department and the City of Grand Rapids,” said Fire Chief Brad Brown. “It will serve as a regional hub for proactive firefighter training across the Midwest while also acting as an economic catalyst for the surrounding community.”
The facility is expected to open in Spring 2027.
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