PBC Board Awards Contract for New Engine Co. 18 Fire House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 13, 2007

Bennie Currie: (312) 744-9277

The Public Building Commission of Chicago today awarded a $9.3 million contract for construction of a new fire house that will replace the oldest operating fire house in the city.

The PBC approved the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, The Lombard Company, as the general contractor for construction of the new Engine Company 18 Fire House, which will be located at 1370 S. Blue Island Avenue. The PBC is overseeing the project on behalf of the City of Chicago.

The new Engine Company 18 will feature a standardized prototype design that will provide the most up-to-date firefighting technology, including modern emergency communications. It will replace the current Engine Co. 18 at 1123 W. Roosevelt Road, which was built in 1873.

The one-story, 18,000 square-foot fire house also will feature locker room and bathroom facilities for men and women, a fully equipped workout facility, 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.

In addition, the fire house will be built will to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's standards for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The project is targeted to achieve a LEED Silver certification. The building will feature a “green” vegetative roof and 20 rooftop solar panels that will be used to heat water in the building.

Lombard 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 fire houses and police stations. Nearly 20 outdated police stations and firehouses will be replaced under the program.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.