Grand Rapids Fire Department breaks ground on new training center

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Fire Department (GRFD) officially broke ground Thursday, Aug. 28, on its new $46 million Training Center, marking a historic milestone for the department and the City of Grand Rapids.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at 850 Pannell Road NW and was attended by city and state leaders, including Mayor David LaGrand, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Senator Mark Huizenga, Representative Carol Glanville, City Manager Mark Washington and Fire Chief Brad Brown, along with GRFD personnel and community members.

This new facility will be the department’s first-ever site solely dedicated to training and emergency management operations. For decades, GRFD conducted most of its training in leased space within the Water Department building at 1101 Monroe Ave. NW, supplemented by a homemade burn building on Butterworth Street. With the riverfront site now slated for redevelopment and the department having outgrown its current space, the search for a permanent home began.

In March 2023, the City purchased 9.37 acres at the Pannell Road location for $1.925 million. Planning quickly followed for a modern, cost-effective complex designed to support multiple fire service disciplines, improve operational efficiency, and expand training opportunities.

The state-of-the-art project will include:

• 97,875 sq. ft. of main buildings housing training classrooms, maintenance areas, and a new Emergency Operations Center.
• A five-story exterior burn building, partially funded through a $1.5 million Federal Economic Development Authority grant.

Funding sources include $15 million from the State of Michigan, the federal grant and city-issued bonds.

The project is being managed by Clark Construction and designed by Williams Architects in partnership with Pure Architects.

“This new training center is a transformational project for both our department and the City of Grand Rapids,” said Fire Chief Brad Brown. “It will serve as a regional hub for proactive firefighter training across the Midwest while also acting as an economic catalyst for the surrounding community.”

The facility is expected to open in Spring 2027.