Orleans Fire Rescue Committee Unanimously Backs Two-Story Station Design

ORLEANS — March 2, 2026 — Orleans picks two-story fire rescue design at $47 million before contentious Town Meeting debate. The Orleans Fire Rescue Building Committee voted 7-0 Monday to pursue a two-story design for the new fire rescue headquarters on Eldridge Parkway, rejecting a three-story alternative estimated at roughly $61 million in hard construction costs. Architect Ted Galante of Galante Architecture Studio presented a detailed comparative analysis showing the two-story option at approximately $47 million — or about $1,200 per square foot — covering site work and construction but excluding soft costs estimated at an additional 25 to 30 percent. Chief Jeff Deering backed the two-story option, citing cross-contamination control and operational efficiency: "Having everything on the same level and the way the internal traffic flow works, the two-story version makes the most sense." Committee Chair David Little and several members expressed concern that cost figures already exceed what voters were told when they authorized design funding, with Little warning, "The costs are already more than we told the town they were previously." Select Board Chair Kevin Galligan, attending as a guest, pushed back, saying residents "would be mad at us if we didn't bring it to town meeting in May," where a borrowing authorization placeholder is already on the May 11 warrant.