Net-zero Fire Station | City of Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor's First Net-Zero Fire Station

A new era for public safety and sustainability

The City of Ann Arbor celebrated the grand opening of the rebuilt Fire Station No. 4 on Oct. 30, 2026, marking a major milestone for public safety and the city's commitment to carbon neutrality.

Located at 2415 S. Huron Parkway, the new station is Michigan's first net-zero, carbon-neutral fire station and Ann Arbor's first new fire station since 1981. It replaces a facility built in 1966 that had exceeded its useful life and no longer met the needs of a modern fire department.

The new station combines energy-efficient design, renewable energy technology, improved emergency vehicle access and modern accommodations for firefighters. It demonstrates how investments in essential public services can also advance the city's environmental goals.

Honoring a trailblazer

During the grand-opening ceremony, the city officially dedicated the new facility in honor of Mindy Kerr, Ann Arbor's first female firefighter.

Kerr served the Ann Arbor Fire Department from 1980 until her retirement in 2005. Naming the station in her honor recognizes her pioneering contributions to the department and celebrates the progress made toward a more inclusive fire service.

Fire Station No. 4 Grand Opening Recap Video

Built for sustainability

Fire Station No. 4 is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year, making it a model for sustainable public safety facilities.

Key sustainability features include:

Solar energy: Rooftop solar panels generate renewable electricity to help power the facility.

Geothermal heating and cooling: A system of geothermal wells uses the earth's relatively stable underground temperatures to efficiently heat and cool the building.

Energy-efficient design: Building systems and architectural features reduce energy demand while supporting the station's around-the-clock operations.

The project advances the city's A2ZERO carbon neutrality goals and demonstrates how renewable energy and energy-efficient design can be incorporated into critical municipal infrastructure.

Designed for today's firefighters and tomorrow's needs

The new station provides a safer, more functional and more inclusive environment for firefighters serving Ann Arbor.

Modern accommodations include private sleeping quarters and gender-neutral bathrooms and showers, supporting the needs of all firefighters. Updated facilities and operational spaces are designed to better accommodate today's emergency response vehicles, equipment and services.

The redesigned site also improves access for emergency vehicles, addressing limitations of the previous station and supporting efficient responses to emergencies.

By replacing an aging facility with a building designed for decades of service, the city is investing in the long-term reliability of emergency services for the community.

Public art celebrates the fire service

Visitors to Fire Station No. 4 will also see “Three Ladder Fire,” a 24-foot-tall public art installation by artist Christopher Fennell.

The sculpture transforms decommissioned Ann Arbor Fire Department ladders into a dramatic flame, celebrating the work of firefighters while giving retired equipment a new purpose.

Located outside the station near Scheffler Park, the installation connects public safety, creativity and sustainability in a distinctive piece of civic art.

Project background

Planning for the replacement of Fire Station No. 4 began in the late 2010s. The city initiated formal architectural and engineering procurement in 2020.

In January 2025, the City Council approved the sale of $12 million in bonds to finance construction of the new station. Construction began later that year, with Granger Construction serving as the project's general contractor. The city worked with Ann Arbor-based A3C Collaborative Architecture and TCA Architecture on the station's design.

The project also included improvements to neighboring Scheffler Park.

Fire Station No. 4