Happening Now

The Municipal Building Capital Repairs & Restoration project is a structural repair project to demolish and replace the elevated slab floor of the Fire Station 1 apparatus bay. 

In preparation for repair and replacement of the Fire Station 1 apparatus bay slab, Asheville Fire Department (AFD) administrative staff will relocate to nearby leased office space. Throughout construction, the Municipal Building fire and police operations will remain in service, and the police station will be open to the public.

Next Milestone: Construction kickoff

Background

The Municipal Building is located at 100 Court Plaza. The two-story structure faces Pack Square Park and sits between the Jackson Building and Pack’s Tavern on the northern edge of the historic Black business district known as The Block. The Municipal Building was built in 1925 and has since been home to AFD headquarters, Fire Station 1, and Asheville Police Department (APD) headquarters. The most recent renovations to the Municipal Building were completed in 2000 and consisted of a complete renovation of the building’s interior layout and some structural reinforcement in Fire Station 1.

Now more than twenty years later, the 2023 Comprehensive Facility Study found that the Municipal Building’s major systems are in poor condition and that the Fire and Police Departments have outgrown the building. The current Municipal Building Capital Repairs & Restoration project, in addition to other planned system replacement projects, will address needed condition improvements, while the City’s Facility Master Plan will address the space constraints and operational efficiency of the building. 

The Municipal Building Capital Repairs & Restoration project is a structural repair project to demolish and replace the elevated slab floor of the Fire Station 1 apparatus bay. The existing slab is structurally insufficient to bear the load of modern day fire trucks. As a result of the slab replacement, interior spaces underneath the slab will be impacted and require renovation.

Construction Impact

Throughout construction, the Municipal Building fire and police operations will remain in service, and the police station will be open to the public. Some public services, such as fire department car seat installation, will be redirected to nearby stations. APD will remain in the Municipal Building during construction. At construction start, Fire Station 1 will continue to maintain their standard of coverage with one truck still running calls from the downtown station while the other two trucks will respond from nearby stations.

Timeline

2022

  • March: Installation of supplemental steel columns and beam supports installed under the Fire Station 1 apparatus bay.
  • May: Engineer begins routine inspections of the slab to monitor its condition. Monthly inspections are still in progress and will continue until the start of construction.
  • August: Final structural assessment report submitted for the Municipal Building. The study concluded that the apparatus bay slab must be replaced. 
  • December: City Council approves engineering contract for Municipal Building Capital Repairs & Restoration project.

2023

2024

  • Additional project funding was requested in the proposed FY 24/25 budget.  
  • April: City Council approved the lease for AFD administration to move to the Jackson Building.

2025

  • Upcoming: Anticipated construction start in early 2025.

2026

  • Anticipated project completion 

Supporting Documents

Municipal Building Assessment 2022 Part 1

Municipal Building Assessment 2022 Part 2

Comprehensive Facility Study

Contact Information

Nicole George, Project Manager

ngeorge@ashevillenc.gov

828-747-1976

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