May 21, 2026

This piece is sponsored by TSP.

A May 14 groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction on a new Sioux Falls fire station, an important investment in public safety services.

Located in the northwest part of the city at 5200 N. Career Ave., Fire Station 13 will be a single-story building with a mezzanine and an approximate building footprint of 12,500 square feet.

The facility is designed to support fire response operations while also providing dedicated work areas for both Sioux Falls Fire Rescue inspectors and officials with the city Planning and Development Services Department.

Fire Chief Matt McAreavey expressed appreciation to the many partners and stakeholders involved in bringing the project to life.

“We love our job, and we love the profession, but there are a lot of days when it’s difficult being a first responder, it’s difficult being a firefighter, and this level of support and commitment goes a long way to show that,” he said.

TSP provided multidisciplinary design services for Station 13.

The firm has partnered with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue for years, using each station project as an opportunity to refine operations, improve efficiency and respond to community needs.

TSP’s work at Fire Station 11 on North Valley View Road was mainly focused on designing a consistent operational experience across the department’s facilities.

That foundation carried forward to Fire Station 12 in the southeast part of town, but the design process shifted from replicating a prototype to refining and improving it.

Lessons learned from daily operations, along with evolving industry standards and policy changes, helped shape the next generation of station design.

The result was a facility that better supports modern emergency response operations, which can affect factors such as community insurance ratings.

With ground now broken for Fire Station 13, the evolution continues.

“From the time Fire Station 12 opened, conversations started about what could work even better in the future,” TSP architect Rex Hambrock said. “TSP heard those comments, many of which were explored and became part of the planning process for Fire Station 13.”

Although the design of Station 13 is similar to Station 12, a significant operational change places firefighters’ bunk rooms closer to the apparatus bay, helping to improve response time during overnight emergency calls.

Station 13 also expands physical training opportunities, supporting firefighter wellness and readiness.

And the exterior aesthetic marks a departure from TSP’s work on Fire Stations 11 and 12.

Instead of adopting a more residential appearance, the design of Fire Station 13 takes cues from the industrial nature of the area.

The $5.2 million facility is expected to open in the first quarter of 2027. Puetz Design + Build is the contractor.

According to McAreavey, about two dozen city employees will be assigned to Fire Station 13.

Listening and asking questions are vital to understanding clients and their preferences in addition to deciding what’s working and what is not working, Hambrock said.

“With a repeat client such as the city of Sioux Falls and Sioux Falls Fire Rescue, it may seem easier, but we still need to ask those questions,” he said.

TSP’s role as a trusted advisor also includes a deep understanding of complex building, safety and zoning codes, as well as modern approaches that emphasize the well-being of crews and their exposure to environmental hazards.

Hambrock added that this ongoing progression requires close collaboration between designers and emergency personnel throughout the planning process.

“Our clients live their profession every day,” he said.

“We are just far-enough removed that we can see the bigger picture, which allows us to engage in conversations that challenge all of us to find the best solution at the time.”

TSP mechanical designer Jason Larkin said the complexity and variety of fire station projects is part of what makes the work rewarding.

It’s also an opportunity to live out one of TSP’s enduring core values: “design it like we own it.”

“When I design plumbing systems, I think like an owner, focusing on solutions that meet the budget and are practical, durable and built to last,” he said.

“Having a background in both architecture and mechanical engineering also helps me envision how to route all the systems before I begin to put anything on paper.”

As Sioux Falls Fire Station 13 moves from planning to construction, it is the next step in an ongoing development of station design shaped by operational experience, collaboration and long-term community needs.