Fire Station No. 4 Replacement
- Project typeConstruction
- Project value22,250,000.00
- Project scheduleApril 30, 2026
- Contractor nameSpartan Construction of New Mexico LLC
- Completion DateNovember 15, 2028
Purpose
The existing Fire Station No. 4 facility has been identified as functionally obsolete as it fails to meet the demands of modern Fire Department operations. For instance, the residential section does not accommodate the mixed gender nature of the emergency response crews, and the structural capacity of the building is not suited to accommodate modern apparatus and specialized equipment.
In June 2024, the County contracted Vega Architecture LLC to provide comprehensive site selection study, design, construction documentation, and construction administration services for the Fire Station No. 4 replacement. Thereafter the project team conducted a rigorous site selection process. Three potential sites were evaluated considering the following criteria: i) Infrastructure availability, ii) construction feasibility, iii) civil impacts, and iv) emergency response time.
The project team also conducted a rigorous public outreach effort to inform and engage the community on the site selection decision process. Following a public input period in November 2024, the County Council formally approved the current 4401 Diamond Drive site for the replacement project and the design team moved forward with the design. During this time, the project team also conducted an entitlements process for proper zoning and establishment of lot boundaries for the project. This process involved the approval of the Planning and Zoning commission as well as public meetings with the neighbors in the near vicinity of Fire Station No. 4.
Summary
On February 10, 2026, the County advertised a formal competitive solicitation IFB 26-49 for the construction of the Fire Station No. 4 replacement. This solicitation closed on March 24, 2026 at 2:00 pm. After reviewing bids received, the bid evaluation committee determined that Spartan Construction of New Mexico LLC was the lowest responsive bidder and on April 7, 2026, County Council approved the bid award to Spartan Construction of New Mexico LLC.
The Fire Station No. 4 replacement will be located at 4402 Diamond Drive, adjacent to the existing Fire Station No. 4 facility. The new facility is designed as a two-story building comprised of 25,518 Gross Square Feet (GSF). The first level encompasses five (5) double depth apparatus bays, residential space for ten (10) first responders, an exercise room, office space, decontamination areas, and a 300 GSF outdoor patio space. The lower level contains a storage facility with specialized work areas for equipment maintenance and dedicated logistics space for the EMS, Public Education, Honor Guard, and Wildland Fire divisions. Moreover, the new Fire Station No. 4 facility will be LEED Gold Certified and the first fully electric County facility. Two highlights of this new facility are the use of heat-pump air conditioning systems and photo voltaic panels to reduce the facility’s electric energy consumption. In this manner, the County is making progress on its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 as outlined in the Los Alamos Climate Action Plan and in furtherance of the County’s Sustainability Initiatives.
The Fire Station No. 4 replacement will be built on vacant land directly west of the existing structure. Vega Architecture LLC, the design firm, has made provisions in the design to minimize disruption to the existing Fire Station No. 4 operations during construction. Following the completion and occupancy of the new station, the legacy building will be demolished and the vacant land created will be landscaped as a green space. These services are included in the project scope of work.
The County has contracted the professional services of Farnsworth Group under a on-call services agreement to provide commissioning services from design through project completion. This quality assurance process oversees the design and construction of the new Fire Station No. 4 and its systems to ensure the performance required by the County is achieved.
Design Scope
Facility Design and Specifications
The proposed design yields a total of 25,518 Gross Square Feet (GSF), engineered to comply with current New Mexico State Building and Fire Codes. The facility includes a 16,305 Net Square Feet (NSF) upper level with five double apparatus bays and residential space for Ten (10) First Responders with a 300 GSF outdoor patio space. In addition, the 8,085 NSF of lower-level storage facility under the residential portion of the building provides specialized work areas for equipment maintenance and dedicated logistics space for the EMS, Public Education, Honor Guard, and Wildland Fire divisions.
Design Phase
VEGA Architects will work with the County project team in the design development, construction documents, bidding, and construction administration to replace Fire Station No. 4 which will be sited adjacent to the existing site at 4401 Diamond Drive, Los Alamos. The design will be tailored to the LAFD and maximize familiarity, efficiency, turnout speed, ease of use, and the health and wellbeing of the firefighters.
Primary Goal - Public Safety under Quality of Life. Secondary Goals - Operational Excellence: Effective, Efficient, Reliable Services, and Infrastructure Asset Management. Quality of Life: Health, Wellbeing, Open Space, and Parks. Environmental Stewardship: Natural Resource Protection, Greenhouse Gas Reduction, and Water Conservation.
Facility Design and Specifications
The proposed design yields a total of 25,518 Gross Square Feet (GSF), engineered to comply with current New Mexico State Building and Fire Codes. The facility includes a 16,305 Net Square Feet (NSF) upper level with five double apparatus bays and residential space for Ten (10) First Responders with a 300 GSF outdoor patio space. In addition, the 8,085 NSF of lower-level storage facility under the residential portion of the building provides specialized work areas for equipment maintenance and dedicated logistics space for the EMS, Public Education, Honor Guard, and Wildland Fire divisions.
Design Phase
VEGA Architects will work with the County project team in the design development, construction documents, bidding, and construction administration to replace Fire Station 4 which will be sited adjacent to the existing site at 4401 Diamond Drive, Los Alamos. The design will be tailored to the LAFD and maximize familiarity, efficiency, turnout speed, ease of use, and the health and wellbeing of the firefighters.
Primary Goal - Public Safety under Quality of Life. Secondary Goals - Operational Excellence: Effective, Efficient, Reliable Services, and Infrastructure Asset Management. Quality of Life: Health, Wellbeing, Open Space, and Parks. Environmental Stewardship: Natural Resource Protection, Greenhouse Gas Reduction, and Water Conservation.
Why do we need a new Fire Station #4
Why we need a new Fire Station #4?
The existing facility is dated.
1) Built in 1964, this facility was not designed for female firefighters (minimal privacy) or for the larger and much heavier fire apparatus used today. 2) Drainage problems have resulted in water intrusion into the basement area of the existing station. 3) There are no provisions in the building for keeping contaminates that firefighters are exposed to out of their living quarters which poses health issues.
New facility requirements.
The standards for new fire stations that are absent in the existing fire station must include: 1) Proper separation of the truck bay from living quarters. 2) Decontamination room to clean gear and equipment that becomes contaminated on emergency calls. 3) Male and female sleeping, showering, and restroom provisions. 4) Positive pressure HVAC systems in living areas to ensure separation from truck bays.
Former Fire Chief Troy Hughes presented the Fire Station #4 replacement project to the County Council on June 20, 2023. You can watch the presentation below:
Public Meetings & Timeline
Timeline
(Chronological order - earliest to latest)
2025-07-09 @ 5:30 p.m. Planning & Zoning Commission
(REZ-2025-0020): The property owner, Los Alamos County, will request a minor zone map amendment (rezone) of Fire Station 4 and adjacent Open Space. The subject properties, designated as NC2 G and NC2 H, are located within the North Community 2 Subdivision and is zoned Open Space – Passive Open (OS-PO) and Institutional (INS), and are addressed 4401 Diamond Drive and 9999 Range Road. The minor zone map amendment would increase the Institutional (INS) area to 100,234 square feet.
2025-08: Community Development staff will consider the Summary Plat Application
2025-TBD: Planning & Zoning Commission
Planning & Zoning Commissioners will consider the Site Plan
2025-TBD: Design development and construction documents to be completed and put out to bid.
Completed Meetings
Reverse chronological order (most recent to latest).
2025-06-24 Hearing with the Los Alamos County Council: (Case No. CPA-2025-0025 & Resolution No. 25-10)
(Case No. CPA-2025-0020)
The Council approved the P&Z recommendation to approve the County’s application to amend the Los Alamos County Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map, changing two parcels located at 4401 Diamond Drive and 9999 Range Road by Transferring Approximately 18,735 square feet from "Open Space – Passive" to "Institutional.”
(Resolution No. 25-10)
The County Council also adopted Resolution No. 25-10 at the subsequent Public Hearing, same evening, to amend the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map to change the land use designation of parcels, known as NC2 G and NC2 H, by transferring approximately 18,735 +/- square feet from "Open Space - Passive" to "Institutional."
2025-05-14 Hearing with Planning & Zoning:
(Case No. CPA-2025-0009)
Planning & Zoning Commissioners recommended that the County Council approval the County’s application to amend the Los Alamos County Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map, changing two parcels located at 4401 Diamond Drive and 9999 Range Road by Transferring Approximately 18,735 square feet from Open Space – Passive to Institutional.
2025-03-06 Neighborhood Public Meeting:
The County project team held an in-person meeting regarding the Fire Station 4 replacement project on Thursday, March 6, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fire Department training room on the third floor of the LAFD Administrative Offices at 999 Central Avenue, Los Alamos. The purpose was to share information on the following project before a Minor Zone Map Amendment application and a re-plat application are submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission:
A request to rezone a portion of the current Open Space - Passive (OS-PO) zone district adjacent to the Fire Station No. 4 property, addressed as 4401 Diamond Drive, to Institutional (INS) zone district, which is intended to accommodate institutional or civic uses, such as schools, libraries, and transportation facilities, and publicly owned lands.
The applications will be considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission in May.
NEIGHBORHOOD-MEETING-FS4-030625.pdf(PDF, 246KB)
Did you miss the meeting? View the PowerPoint slides(PDF, 3MB) and watch the meeting below:
Background on Site Selection
Los Alamos County evaluated three county-owned parcels that met the necessary criteria for the replacement of Fire Station #4. Important factors in site selection included maintaining response times, public land ownership, keeping the existing station operational during construction, relatively flat terrain, access to utilities, and design and cost feasibility.
After three public meetings, feedback through emails from interested individuals, and a community survey, the overwhelming opinion was to rebuild at the current location, 4401 Diamond Drive.
In November 2024, the County Council approved this recommendation. For more details, visit the Fire Station 4 Replacement: Site Selection project web page.
last updated:08-14-2026
Contact details
Project Manager: Sobia Sayeda
505-662-8150
Location
4401 Diamond Drive, Los Alamos, NM 87544 View Map
35.9007884,-106.3034362
4401 Diamond Drive ,
Los Alamos, NM 87544
4401 Diamond Drive ,
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Fire Station No. 4 Replacement
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