Firehouse Magazine Publishes Co-Location Article Authored by BKV's Public Safety Practice Leaders, Craig Carter and Michael Healy

As communities continue to maximize public investment and operational efficiency, co-located public safety facilities are becoming an increasingly valuable solution.

In this latest Firehouse article, Craig and Mike describe how new fire stations are now frequently being paired with community health centers, police departments, public works, and other civic functions — creating opportunities for stronger collaboration, shared resources, and enhanced public service delivery. From their shared experience with planning and designing stations across the country, they posit that a successful co-located facility design depends on balancing operational efficiency with the unique needs of each user group. Meaning, thoughtful planning around security, circulation, response times, acoustics, wellness, and public accessibility are critical to ensuring emergency services remain mission-ready while supporting broader community engagement. In doing so, flexible, future-ready design strategies are helping municipalities create facilities that not only serve today’s needs, but adapt alongside evolving public safety and civic priorities.