Renovation of a fire / police facility in Nashua, New Hampshire. Conceptual plans call for the renovation of a fire / police facility.

The Amherst Street Fire Station, constructed in 1893, is the oldest continually occupied fire station in the city, as well as the entire state of New Hampshire, and is also believed to be the second oldest station in New England. This is one of Nashua Fire Rescue’s busiest firehouses. Originally constructed to house horse drawn apparatus, as one can imagine, the building has undergone numerous renovations over the years. Located in the historic district, the building has a granite block foundation wall with a full basement and an elevated reinforced 8 inch thick concrete slab for the first floor. As a result of motorized fire apparatus, the floor system has received the most renovation work over time, all necessary to support the ever increasing weight of fire apparatus. Today’s ladder trucks weigh 80,000 pounds, fire engines weigh just under 50,000 pounds. The most recent renovation work was to increase the reinforcement of the now 43-year-old floor system. Since 2001, we have seen a number of small cracks appear with some spalling visible from the basement looking up at the underside of the slab. Over the years, we have also experienced cracking and delamination of the epoxy floor coating that we have repaired twice using deferred maintenance funds. In early September 2022, we found some additional cracks in the slab that were remote from all previous cracking. The Nashua Building Department responded to investigate. At their suggestion, we contacted TF Moran, who in turn suggested we contract with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE), a structural engineering firm out of Boston, to have them investigate and provide an evaluation of the crack along with survey of the slab. WJE’s report recommends the cracks along with the areas around the cracks to the depth of the rebar be removed from both the topside as well as the underside of the slab. After that, the slab would be rebuilt to its previous thickness. As it sounds when reading the description, this project occurring in an occupied operating fire station will require not only closely integrated project logistics, it will also require multiple set-ups and tear-downs to allow adequate cure times for the concrete. As of September 25, 2024, this project is included in the city's 2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Further information regarding a design firm or timeline for construction has not been established yet. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.