New York Construction Report staff writer
Kingston’s new Central Fire Station at 18 East O’Reilly Street is under construction, a project city officials say will modernize emergency response operations and expand capacity for the Kingston Fire Department.
The $8.8 million project will transform the former Central Hudson building into an expanded fire and emergency services facility, while also incorporating an Emergency Operations Center and upgraded training space.
“We are pleased to break ground on this vital community safety project,” Noble said. “The Kingston Fire Department has outgrown its current facility, and this expansion will allow us to maintain our high level of service.”
The existing Central Fire Station was built in 1908 for horse-drawn apparatus and is no longer able to meet modern operational needs. City officials said its historic designation and structural limitations made full rehabilitation impractical.
The adjacent 18 East O’Reilly Street property, originally built in 1940 by Central Hudson, will be adaptively reused and integrated into the expanded fire station campus. The facility will house larger fire apparatus, while the current station will continue to support smaller vehicles and EMS operations.
“This new facility will bring Kingston into the future,” said Kingston Fire Chief Chris Rea. “It will allow us to continue providing optimum fire protection and EMS response while also allowing for growth.”
The upgraded complex will include an Emergency Operations Center, training rooms, a ten-bed dormitory, a 36-person training room, apparatus bays, administrative offices and storage and support space.
Plans also include sustainability upgrades such as geothermal heating and cooling and rooftop solar energy generation. The project will feature an 8-ton geothermal system with six wells and a 56-kilowatt photovoltaic system.
Additional renovations will include façade restoration, roof replacement, interior reconstruction, electrical and lighting upgrades, site regrading and utility improvements.
The project was designed by C.T. Male Associates and awarded to LeChase Construction Services. Construction is expected to take approximately 14 months and will be carried out under a Project Labor Agreement supporting local workers.
City officials said the project reflects both a modernization of emergency services and a long-term investment in resilience, sustainability and operational readiness for Kingston’s fire and EMS systems.
