Project Name: Fire Station No. 2
Location: Peterborough, Ontario
Product: Obsidian Shadow American Imperial Thin Brick by King Klinker
Architect: Unity Design Studio
Masonry Contractor: Ostim LTD.
Photo Credit: City of Peterborough
A fire station must support emergency response, daily operations, firefighter wellbeing, and long-term public service. Much of that work happens between calls.
Peterborough Fire Station No. 2 was built with those needs in mind. Relocated to 100 Marina Boulevard, the new station replaced an older facility and improved response coverage for the city’s north end, where growth has increased demand for emergency services.
The project, designed by Unity Design Studio, is the City of Peterborough’s first net-zero energy and net-zero carbon building.
A Durable Civic Exterior
Brick has a long history in civic and public safety buildings because it provides durability, permanence, and a consistent appearance over time. Peterborough Fire Station No. 2 carries that tradition forward with a more contemporary design.
Instead of traditional red brick, the station uses Obsidian Shadow from King Klinker. The dark grey tone gives the building a restrained civic presence and lets the form, openings, and horizontal lines of the façade carry the design. The elongated profile reinforces the station’s clean, linear massing, while variation within the brick blend keeps larger wall areas from reading as flat or uniform.
Brick also supports the practical side of the project. Because the station operates continuously, its exterior is exposed to weather cycles, vehicle activity, equipment movement, and daily operational wear. Brick’s durability and low maintenance help reduce upkeep and preserve the building’s appearance over time.
Supporting the People Behind the Response
Modern fire stations must support the crew throughout the full shift, not only when an emergency call comes in. Fitness, lounge, dormitory, and wellness spaces provide areas for training, rest, and recovery, helping firefighters maintain readiness between calls.
These spaces connect firefighter wellbeing with operational performance, recognizing that rest, recovery, and day-to-day needs contribute to sustained readiness.
Net-Zero Performance for Civic Infrastructure
The station’s net-zero strategy includes a mass timber structure, geothermal heating and cooling, a high-performance building envelope, efficient lighting, and a rooftop solar array.
Achieving this level of performance in a fire station requires close coordination. The facility operates around the clock, with large vehicle doors opening regularly and occupancy changing throughout the day. The structure, envelope, and building systems must work together without compromising emergency operations.
A Long-Term Public Building
Peterborough Fire Station No. 2 was designed to balance several priorities. It must support emergency response, reduce energy use, improve firefighter wellbeing, and perform for decades as a civic building. These goals can compete with one another when they are treated separately.
Brick supports the broader design strategy by providing a durable, low-maintenance exterior suited to long-term public use. Obsidian Shadow gives the building a contemporary expression, while the material itself provides the permanence expected from a fire station.
The project shows how a civic building can balance operational demands, energy performance, durable material choices, and clear architectural intent.
