PBC board awards contract for new Engine Co. 121 Fire House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 14, 2006

Bennie Currie: (312) 744-9277

The Public Building Commission of Chicago today awarded a $7.1 million contract for construction of a new fire station on the city's South Side.

PBC board members voted to select Pacific Construction Services as the general contractor for construction of the new Engine Company 121 Fire House. The PBC is overseeing the project on behalf of the City of Chicago.

The new Engine Company 121, which will be located in the 1700 block of West 95th St., will provide the most up-to-date firefighting technology, including modern emergency communications. It will replace a facility on the same block that was built nearly a century ago, officials said.

The 15,000-square-foot fire house also will feature locker room and bathroom facilities for men and women, a fully equipped workout facility, convenient, oversized garage doors to accommodate today's larger emergency vehicles and a circular driveway to make it faster and safer for vehicles to leave and re-enter the building.

Pacific Construction has committed to at least 24 percent participation in the project by minority business enterprises and 4 percent participation by women business enterprises, officials said.

The fire house will be built under Mayor Richard M. Daley's Neighborhoods Alive program, which includes firehouses and police stations. Nearly 20 police stations and firehouses will be replaced under the program.

The PBC manages construction and renovation projects for the City of Chicago and its sister agencies. Mayor Daley serves as the PBC's chairman.

Other actions taken Tuesday by the PBC board are listed on the PBC's Web site at www.pbcchicago.com.