b'32 New Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting GRREMERGENCY RESPONSEFacility Opens at Gerald Ford IntlBY JODI RICHARDSPHOTO: DAVID SPARKSThis May, Gerald R. FordPeric notes that the new facility, funded International Airport (GRR) inthrough a combination of federal and state Grand Rapids, MI, completedgrants as well as airport revenue bonds, construction of a new $14.5 million Aircraftprovides a proper work environment for Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) building.GRRs emergency response employees.Designed to support the airports ongoingThe facility it commitment to passenger safety andreplaced was built operational efficiency, the 25,000-square- in 1985 for snow foot facility provides space for its 19-personequipment storage, ARFF staff and four advanced firefightingand then renovated vehicles, including an Oshkosh Striker 6x6into a combination GRR took delivery of last summer. The newARFF station/Airport station also features specially designedOperation Center inJEFF BERGHAGEFACTS&FIGUREStraining areas and direct access to the2002. The building Airport Operations Center.was quite dated and everyone was making Project: New Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting FacilitySafety is first anddo, relates Jeff Berghage, project manager Location: Gerald R. Ford Intl Airport, in Grandforemost, emphasizesat GRR.Rapids, MIAlex Peric, vice Facility Size: 25,000 sq. ft. For instance, ceilings were not high president and chiefenough to accommodate use of a stair Key Features: 5 drive-through bays for advancedoperating officer atclimbing exercise machine, so ARFF firefighting vehicles; expanded & improved trainingGRR. Were not an spaces; direct access to the Airport Operationspersonnel removed some ceiling tiles to Center; improved residential quarters for employees airport if were notcreate the needed clearance. Bunk rooms safe, so we wanted toALEX PERIC were adjacent to offices, which was not Cost: $14.5 million make that investment Funding: Federal & state grants; airport revenueideal for either function. And the apparatus in our public safety and operationsbay lacked space for efficient organization, bonds department.Construction: Aug. 2023-May 2025 storage or training. It was just a big garage Driven in part by the airports rapidspace, Berghage explains. Architect: DLZ of Michigangrowth since 2015, planning for the new General Contractor: Miller-Davis Co. ARFF station began in 2017. GRR isPlanned InvestmentKey Benefit: Larger purpose-built facility toMichigans second-busiest airport, servingThe stage was originally set for the new support 24/7 emergency response over 4 million passengers in 202410%station back in 2008, when GRR invested more than the previous year.September 2025AirportImprovement.com'