Wake County commissioners today approved plans to replace and modernize an aging EMS station on Hargrove Road in Raleigh. The new station will feature an additional ambulance bay, expanded living areas for staff and eco-friendly upgrades.
“By improving our EMS stations, we also improve our system’s long-term ability to meet the needs of a growing community,” said Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson. “The upgrades to Station 5 reflect a workplace that is ready to support sustainable, exceptional service delivery and employee health and resilience for decades to come.”
EMS Station 5, known as Mini City Station, was built in 1989. It currently measures 2,066 square feet with two vehicle bays that take up more than half of the space. The new building will be 4,383 square feet, creating room for an additional vehicle bay and enabling the station to continue to respond efficiently to increased call volumes.
The plans also significantly expand staff living areas, including increased dining and living space, a supervisor office, extra storage and a wellness room. The wellness room offers staff a private area for reflection or meditation and can also serve as a lactation space.
The new station is designed with sustainability in mind. A few of the environmentally conscious features include a solar photovoltaic system, low-flow plumbing fixtures, high-efficiency heat pumps, polished concrete flooring, low-carbon concrete and native, drought-tolerant plant materials.
Now that the schematic designs have been approved, Wake County will move forward with permitting and the public bid process. Construction is expected to begin this fall and be completed by late 2027. By early 2028, EMS units are expected to start using the station.
