City of London Fire Station #2
City of London
~$12 Million
Murphy & Murphy
Graceview Enterprises
2005
Fire Station 2 is located at 1103 Florence Street in London’s Old East Village and serves as a fully operational emergency services hub. Constructed in 2005 on the site of its predecessor, this modern facility honors the legacy of DC Stanley Scruby and Lieutenant Arthur Hartop. The building spans approximately 63,600 ft² and combines a triple-wide, double-depth apparatus bay with a drive-through maintenance garage, complemented by 54 parking spaces and exterior storage for five fire trucks.
Its long north-facing façade features a stone base symbolizing civic permanence, rising red-brick walls, and a cornice that visually anchors the structure. The design incorporates triangular entrance canopies and curtain glass towers, guiding both the public and staff inward. Inside, Engine 2, Car 2, Rescue 2, Marine 2, and technical support units—including air/light and decontamination trailers—are housed, ensuring rapid citywide deployment.
Open and staffed 24/7, Station 2 provides fire suppression, medical response, marine rescue, and hazardous-material support—serving as a key lifeline for East London’s growing community.
Fire Station 2 in London, Ontario, utilizes a robust structural steel frame system combined with load-bearing masonry walls and reinforced concrete foundations to support its wide-span apparatus bays and essential operational areas. The building’s double-depth drive-through bays required long, column-free spans, presenting challenges in minimizing deflection and ensuring seismic resilience. Accommodating the heavy live loads of fire trucks and technical equipment demanded specialized slab design and reinforcement. Additionally, the integration of curtain wall elements with masonry and steel framing posed coordination challenges at key interfaces. Durability and post-disaster functionality were paramount, influencing all structural decisions from concept to completion.
