October 29, 2025

Groundbreaking for Rockaway Park FDNY Firehouse

Seven people in hard hats and uniforms participate in a groundbreaking ceremony, digging into soil with shovels. Multiple American flags are displayed in the background behind a metal fence.

In collaboration with the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and the FDNY, the new fire station housing Engine Co. 268 and Ladder Co. 137 in Rockaway Park, Queens, stands as a resilient and community-centered facility adjacent to the borough’s 9/11 Memorial. Designed to endure severe weather along Jamaica Bay, the station integrates flood-prevention and sustainable strategies while serving as a “machine for service” that supports firefighters’ operational and daily needs. Its design features two horizontal volumes—one resilient, utilitarian base housing apparatus and training areas, and an upper level with living and workspaces—connected by a vertical glass stair tower that glows as a symbolic beacon of service.

Sustainability and community engagement define the project: the building incorporates LEED-focused systems such as solar hot water panels, a vegetative green roof, passive ventilation through operable skylights, and a stormwater retention system. The design also forges a strong connection to its surroundings, with the main entrance aligning with the neighboring 9/11 Tribute Park and a landscaped public frontage along Beach 116th Street featuring glass murals by artist Andrea Belag that honor the FDNY’s history and the Rockaways’ spirit.

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Two people stand smiling in front of a row of American flags on flagpoles, with a metal fence and cloudy sky in the background. They are wearing jackets and scarves.

A modern fire station with red garage doors, large windows, and an American flag on the roof. A fire truck is parked outside, and the building is set on a sunny day with blue sky and scattered clouds.

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