Jaynes Project Spotlight: The Pueblo of Sandia Opens Fire Station 39

The Pueblo of Sandia is located in central New Mexico adjacent to the City of Albuquerque and the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. The Pueblo covers 22,877 acres east of the Rio Grande Valley. It’s wildfire country and home to many thriving businesses including Sandia Resort and Casino. Recent wildfires and the increasing need to respond to medical emergencies in the region led the Pueblo of Sandia Tribal Council to create the first new emergency services facility in the region in over 15 years.

The thoroughly modern Fire and Emergency Medical Services station, officially named Pueblo of Sandia Station 39, is managed, staffed, and equipped by Bernalillo County Fire Rescue through an innovative, inter-governmental agreement with the Pueblo.

Previously, the Pueblo had to rely on more distant fire and medical stations to answer challenging emergencies. The new station delivers, to the Pueblo and the region, improved emergency response times, enhanced fire protection and medical services, and is part of a larger strategy to create the necessary infrastructure for more residential, commercial, and industrial development. It also increases the safety and well-being of all citizens in the area.

Jaynes and the Pueblo of Sandia have a relationship that spans over 30 years and over 30 projects. This fire and emergency medical services station is the most recent Jaynes collaboration with the Pueblo.

Modern facilities like this are vital to communities and provide crucial emergency services that save lives, protect property, and enhance a community’s resilience. Jaynes has built over $200M in fire stations and first responder structures throughout the Southwest and brought deep expertise to constructing this 11,330 square foot station. Jaynes collaborated with the architects at Vigil & Associates on the project.

The immediate benefit was an upgrade of emergency services capabilities in the Pueblo’s communities. The Pueblo’s five-year contract with Bernalillo County Fire Rescue is an example of efficient County and City government collaboration and cooperation. This partnership ensured modern equipment, the latest first responder technology, and a large team of well-trained first responders were serving the community on the day of the ribbon-cutting. Jaynes worked with both Pueblo Sandia and Bernalillo County to answer stringent project requirements.

Innovative construction technology included Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) and Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs). ICFs combine enhanced insulating properties and improved structural strength, increasing the building’s structural robustness and reducing energy costs. ICFs, filled with reinforced concrete, exponentially increase structural integrity and offer a unique blend of performance, efficiency, and versatility. CMUs offer superior strength and longevity. Another unique feature of the facility is state-of-the-art automatic doors that enable vastly quicker vehicle response times.

The Jaynes Building Information Modeling (BIM) team was vital to this project, contributing complete  Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) modeling and coordination, and Jaynes self-performed all of the concrete work.

Other recent projects Jaynes has undertaken with Pueblo Sandia include the Sandia Resort & Casino Office Complex, which won the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) Eagle Award of Excellence, and the Sandia Resort & Casino Amphitheater.