From left: State Sen. Patrick O'Connor, Dave Dupuy of Colantonio, Inc., Police Chief David Jones, Fire Chief Steve Murphy, Select Board Chair Elizabeth Klein, Select Board Members Joe Fisher and William Ramsey, Town Administrator Tom Mayo, and Assistant Town Administrators Art Robert and Michelle Monsegur. (Courtesy Photo Town of Hingham)
HINGHAM — Town Administrator Tom Mayo is pleased to share that the Town of Hingham officially broke ground yesterday on its new public safety facility.
The new police and fire space, which Town Meeting and voters approved last fall, will be located at 335 Lincoln Street. It will combine the Hingham Police Department, currently located at Town Hall, and the North Fire Station, currently located at 230 North Street, into one modern facility.
"Today, we gather here to mark a significant milestone in the history of our community— the groundbreaking ceremony for our new state-of-the-art public safety facility," Select Board Chair Liz Klein said. "This is a momentous occasion that symbolizes progress, safety, and our unwavering commitment to the well-being of our residents."
The groundbreaking marks the culmination of a yearslong effort that began with a feasibility study and design phases, authorization of the purchase of the Lincoln Street parcel and authorization of a debt exclusion of up to $46.7 million for construction, equipment and furnishing of a new facility.
The groundbreaking also represents the beginning of extensive construction work that is expected to continue into the first half of 2025, when it's anticipated that the Hingham Police and Fire Departments will occupy the building. In the time since the Town acquired the property, the Hingham Fire and Police Departments have utilized the vacant building on the site to conduct a variety of training exercises.
Over the next several weeks, general contractor Colantonio, Inc. will be mobilizing materials and equipment, setting up construction trailers, providing temporary power, shutting down utility connections, installing fencing, and beginning demolition of the existing slab on the site.
"Way back at Town Meeting in 2015, the residents voted to create a building committee to find a home for the North Fire Station," Town Administrator Mayo said, acknowledging the extensive work that went into evaluating and eliminating options. He credited Fire Chief Steve Murphy with being the first to propose the site where construction will begin in earnest next week.
The new public safety facility will be three stories tall and will reflect the nautical and industrial histories of the Hingham Shipyard it abuts while remaining consistent with the size of the buildings in the area today. The project includes the construction of a two-level parking facility with approximately 94 spaces for the use of the Police and Fire Departments, with additional parking for members of the public. The design of the PSF incorporates the use of mechanical and electric systems that will utilize clean energy sources to power the building wherever feasible
In addition to Colantonio, the Town of Hingham has retained Hill International to serve as the owner's project manager for the facility while Kaestle Boos Associates serves as the architect on the project
The groundbreaking was attended by members of the police and fire departments that will one day occupy the facility, along with members of the Select Board, Advisory Committee, Public Safety Facility Building Committee, State Sen. Patrick O'Connor, a member of Congressman Stephen Lynch's team as well as members of the project team.
More information about the project and the latest updates can be found here: https://www.hingham-ma.gov/PSF.
Members of the Hingham Police Department at the groundbreaking for the new public safety facility. (Courtesy Photo Town of Hingham)
From left: Town Real Estate Counsel Susan Murphy, Select Board member Joe Fisher, Select Board Chair Liz Klein, Advisory Committee member Tina Sherwood, Select Board Member Bill Ramsey, Advisory Committee Chair George Danis, and Advisory Committee member Nancy Macdonald. (Courtesy Photo Town of Hingham)
Members of the Public Safety Facility Building Committee and Project Team at the groundbreaking ahead of the start of construction on the project. (Courtesy Photo Town of Hingham)
Members of the Hingham Fire Department at Wednesday’s groundbreaking. (Courtesy Photo Town of Hingham)
An aerial view of the construction site. The red dotted lines denote fencing. (Courtesy photo Town of Hingham)