NEWBURYPORT – The City of Newburyport on Thursday ceremonially broke ground on the new John F. Cutter Jr. Fire Station, which will provide 21st century fire service and become the City’s first public building to meet net zero energy construction requirements.
Mayor Sean Reardon, Fire Chief Stephen H. Bradbury III, City Councilors, firefighters, City staff, project team representatives, and members of the Cutter family attended the ceremonial groundbreaking at the construction site of 153 Storey Ave. on Thursday, Aug. 24.
“This really is a long-overdue project,” Mayor Reardon said. “This was a real public process. There were questions about moving the station elsewhere, but it was important to the neighbors to have this connection to the Fire Department.”
Mayor Reardon credited Chief Bradbury’s leadership with bringing the project forward to this point.
The new station will meet the increased demands of 21st century fire service, and will put the safety and well-being of firefighters first. Its layout will separate living space from firefighting equipment and contain modern fire suppression and HVAC systems. It will allow for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, contain spaces for visitors to park, and support a multi-gendered staff, all critical elements for a modern fire station.
Chief Bradbury highlighted the many features of the station that will ensure firefighters remain safe, and thanked the City’s Senior Project Manager, Geordie Vining, for always keeping the needs of first responders at the forefront of every decision.
Mayor Reardon’s grandfather, Chief Warren O. Page, and Mayor Byron Matthews were instrumental in the construction of the original station on the site, which opened in 1972 as the Turkey Hill neighborhood was taking shape.
The 6,600-square-foot station will be the first public building in the City built under its new net zero energy construction ordinance, which will assist the City in meeting its long-term sustainability goals. A solar photovoltaic panel system is anticipated to generate as much power as the building uses, and the building’s systems will help conserve energy throughout the year.
The City has set a goal to become a net zero energy community by 2050. Newburyport has adopted the State’s targets of 45% greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction by 2030, and 85% reduction by 2050, while making all municipal buildings net zero energy users.
“We have set the stage for the future development in the City, and how we can build sustainable buildings moving forward,” Mayor Reardon said.
“We have worked for years actively planning this project and it is exciting to see it finally underway,” said Vining. “I would like to particularly thank the neighborhood for their patience and understanding during the construction phase, as well as the many municipal staff who have contributed countless hours to its design. This net zero Energy public building should serve as a model as we try to do our part to address the effects of climate change.”
The station is named for the late John F. Cutter Jr., a career member of the Newburyport Fire Department who retired as Assistant Chief. His late son, John F. “Jack” Cutter III and his late grandson Stephen both later served Newburyport as Fire Chiefs. Two of his grandchildren and one of his great-grandsons are currently serving Newburyport as firefighters, with another great-grandson serving in the Police Department.
Construction Dynamics, Inc. is serving as general contractor. The Owner’s Project Manager is Turner & Townsend Heery, Inc. Winter Street Architects designed the station.
