By Laura Esposito
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Almost 30 years have passed since Pittsburgh has seen a new medic station 鈥� until now.
Public safety and public works officials on Friday announced the construction of a new Medic 4 Station on the North Side. It will be the first medical facility built since 1996.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to change the bureau of EMS; we have to move into the 21st century,鈥� EMS Chief Amera Gilchrist said at the site of the current station at 213 Lafayette Ave.
Officials said that the original building, a historical landmark built in the 1800s, will be demolished in the coming weeks. Then, construction of the new, state-of-the-art station will begin on the same site.
Public Works Director Chris Hornstein said the new facility was 鈥渕any years in the making鈥� and called it 鈥渢he first in a long line of improvements.鈥�
The building was designed to meet Passivhaus standards 鈥� a voluntary energy efficient standard focusing on reducing energy used for heating and cooling, Mr. Hornstein said.
It will also be large enough to accommodate four ambulances and will feature several other facilities, including a workout room.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a high performance [building] in terms of energy; it鈥檚 a high performance [building] for the people that serve,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his one鈥檚 for EMS.鈥�
Mayor Ed Gainey said the plans for a new facility had been 鈥渨ay too long of a wait.鈥�
鈥淟ike anything else in the city, we haven鈥檛 taken advantage of investing in our assets,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen they get to a point where they鈥檙e outdated and no longer usable, so I鈥檓 thrilled we鈥檙e building it.鈥�
Mr. Gainey said the continued renovation of facilities would make for a better, more innovative city.
鈥淚f we can just continue to do this, we can catch up and have a modernized city,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about 鈥� everyday build to give better.鈥�
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