Construction starts soon on a large new city fire hall designed to serve both the Volkswagen plant at the Enterprise South Industrial Park and the surrounding community, officials said Tuesday.
Steve Leach, city public works administrator, said the fire hall will cost $2.9 million and include three bays.
He said, "It will be very large - 11,300 square feet."
Mr. Leach said the fire hall is being designed by Franklin Group Architects and the aim is to achieve the silver level of LEED certification.
He said it will have a number of energy-efficient features, including lots of day lighting and a rainwater collector for irrigation use.
Landscaping will be all native vegetation, he said.
Mr. Leach said the city-owned, 4.5-acre site is on a prominent knoll. "This will be an asset. It will be very nice," he said.
There will also be a small fire station at the VW plant itself.
Thomas Brothers Construction will begin grading the site following an official ground-breaking on Wednesday.
Construction bids are currently out.
The fire hall is slated to be ready by August of next year.