For the Upper Allen Fire Department, a renovated building means more than just a fresh new appearance, it’s a gateway to growing their team.

Mowery is nearing the completion of the newly renovated Upper Allen Fire Department building, which features private rooms for volunteers that include a bed, dresser, desk and full bathroom. With six bunk rooms, four live-in bedrooms, and a real fireman’s pole, the new building is unique for central PA as it is uncommon for fire departments in rural areas to have this type of set up and the department hopes to attract new volunteers from schools like HACC and Messiah College.

“In order to attract people, you need to have a nice facility because people don’t want to volunteer their time and come out to something they always have to repair,” stated Upper Allen Fire Department Chief James Salter in a recent interview.

Upper Allen Fire Department Renovation Rendering

Rendering of Upper Allen Fire Department created by byDesign Consultants, Inc.

 

Renovating an operational fire department

Throughout construction, the department remained operational, which presented a few unique challenges for the Mowery team site supervisors and workers to overcome, including:

  • Maintaining proper access around the building for fire trucks and vehicles to leave in the event of an emergency.
  • During demolition, the existing building had to be shored while removing structural members and walls of the old office.
  • Limited space for staging materials, parking and deliveries.
  • Rain and snow created challenges for maintaining project schedule.
 

Mowery worked closely with the township and fire department to overcome these challenges including creating temporarily fenced-off areas for materials, parking and deliveries. The project superintendent kept a watchful eye on the weather forecast throughout the project’s lifetime to quickly take advantage of clear skies to complete tasks like waterproofing the underside of the elevator. When snow arrived the weekend before the scheduled day for the floor pour and roof installation, the dedicated project superintendent cleared the slab to keep delays to a minimum. Quality, integrity and appeal were gauges used for determining the best practical construction methods.

The Upper Allen Fire Department’s coverage area includes sections of 11/15 and the PA Turnpike. Mowery is proud to be part of a project that keeps the community safe and is thankful for their service.

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