The Waterstone Fire and EMS Station recently received a design award from Firehouse Magazine.

The station shared by Orange Rural Fire Department and Orange County Emergency Services won a bronze award in the co-location category. The Station Design Awards recognize outstanding architecture and design of fire departments and emergency facilities nationwide.

“We spent approximately three years discussing, designing and building the facility. We are very pleased with how well the station design and functionality turned out,” Fire Chief Jeff Cabe said. “I’m extremely proud that our facility has been recognized with this design award. I think this speaks volumes as to the commitment and dedication of the department, town and county staff.”  

The November edition of the printed and digital magazine includes a full-page feature on the station, which was completed in 2023 and cost $6.64 million. The 12,808-square-foot station is located in the Waterstone development in southern Hillsborough and was a joint project of the Fire Department, Orange County and the Town of Hillsborough. The town contributed $108,000 and the land for the station through a land swap with Orange Rural. Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects were the architects on the project.  

The article notes the project was challenging due to the site’s steepness and need for a retaining wall, which limited the usable road frontage. Judges: 

• Applauded placing the pedestrian entrance at the rear of the building closest to the parking and away from the emergency driveway.
• Liked the shared apparatus bays in the center of the building with dedicated space for fire protection services on one side and emergency services on the other side.
• Admired the exterior, which blends the traditional red brick and arched bay door openings within the downtown with the modern look of Waterstone by including architectural concrete masonry units and matte black windows, cornices and downspouts. 

The panel of seven judges included fire chiefs and architects experienced in recent design and construction. The full listing of the 2025 winners can be found in the magazine’s news release.