WBG KOMMUNAL GmbH has been commissioned by the City of Nuremberg to revise 18 locations of the volunteer fire departments in Nuremberg. Six sites have already been completed. The work now begins on the construction of the new fire station (FWGH) for the Volunteer Fire Department of Nuremberg-Katzwang.
Mayor Marcus König said: "The volunteer fire departments are an important pillar of Nuremberg: they ensure safety, assist in emergencies, and are a vital part of the social community. I would like to thank all the members of the department for their service. With today's groundbreaking for the new fire station, we are keeping our promise to gradually renovate or rebuild fire stations – even in times of tight budgets."
The new fire station will be constructed in a typical design on Strawinskystraße, with three parking spaces for the existing emergency vehicles, a single-story storage area, and a two-story functional wing with changing rooms and a training room.
Future-proof and sustainable construction
The design of the new building meets the functional requirements and is both sustainable and designed for long-term economical operation and maintenance. Additionally, the construction ensures the continued existence of the volunteer fire departments through forward-looking planning that considers youth development. It is also a significant contribution to securing the operation of fire departments and the municipal safety infrastructure in Nuremberg. In case of emergency, the fire station will serve as a supply point and "beacon" in disaster situations.
Special attention is being given to health protection, gender separation, operational reliability, and continued operation in case of emergencies. For this purpose, a small technical building for the emergency power generator has been planned at the rear parking area to ensure the continued function of the fire station during crisis situations.
Special equipment for civil protection
At the Katzwang location, the so-called "oil recovery device Bandskimmer" is housed, which is used to remove oil layers from bodies of water. The availability of this special equipment requires regular checks and ongoing training of the volunteer emergency personnel.
The new building guarantees the best conditions for the volunteers and ensures optimal operational processes. It will house personal protective equipment (PPE) and an "alarm point" for the provision of operational information, as well as facilities for drying uniforms and boots and gender-segregated changing rooms (White Area).
The alarm point is equipped with an alarm monitor that provides the emergency responders, especially the leadership staff, with an overview of the alarm keyword, deployment location, and the units alerted. This helps with a quicker assessment of the situation and the organization of available personnel.
Mayor Christian Vogel noted: "For the members of the Volunteer Fire Department of Nuremberg-Katzwang, I am very pleased that we can lay the foundation for the long-needed new fire station today. In my view, this is an important signal that we are equipping the volunteer departments well. I ask the comrades from Katzwang to be patient for a little while longer until they can move into their new home."
Accessibility and Sustainability as Key Aspects
The public building will feature barrier-free access, a disabled WC, and a barrier-free passenger elevator. A parking space for people with disabilities will also be provided on the site.
"The facade will be a ventilated brick facade with an inner insulation layer. Various training points, including platforms and facade protection, will be installed on the facade for training purposes. The insulated roof will have an extensive green roof," explained Planning and Construction Director Daniel F. Ulrich. The property will be enclosed with retaining walls and a fence, and electric sliding gates will secure the access roads. The non-sealed outdoor areas will be planted with native shrubs, trees, and individual trees.
The building will be heated by an air-water heat pump system. The ventilation system will include heat recovery (85%) for the interior rooms. A track-guided exhaust system will be used for vehicle emissions.
For the water supply, an automatic flushing system at the end of the supply lines will prevent stagnation of drinking water, ensuring no contamination of the drinking water. The hot water supply will be provided by decentralized electric instantaneous water heaters directly at the points of use.
Operational Readiness and Training Facility as Location Factors
The location ensures the quickest possible arrival of emergency responders at the scene and offers, in addition to the operationally relevant infrastructure, the opportunity for both theoretical and practical training sessions that serve to maintain the department’s effectiveness. An important goal is the recruitment and promotion of young people, which is also supported by the maintenance of a youth fire department.
The fire station will be operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but will not be constantly staffed. The Volunteer Fire Department of Nuremberg-Katzwang currently has 58 emergency personnel.
The planning is provided by the architectural office KÖLLING ARCHITEKTEN BDA from Bad Vilbel and the TGA planning office HDH Nürnberg GmbH from Nuremberg. The City of Nuremberg is investing around 8.5 million euros in the Katzwang location. Completion is expected in mid-2026. "Together with the construction partners, we will make every effort to meet the timeline and budget requirements," said WBG Managing Director Ralf Schekira.
The 2,792 m² site will be fully utilized. The previous location on Neuseser Straße in the Katzwang construction yard will be abandoned.
