Building 51 Fire Department Renovation

Located at the northwest corner of the NIH Bethesda campus, Building 51 houses the NIH Fire Department in a two-story, 21,290-square-foot facility constructed in 2001. The building is clad in brick masonry with precast accent bands and accommodates offices, classrooms, conference rooms, a kitchen, common restrooms, sleeping quarters with shared bathrooms, and fire truck bays. As a 24/7 emergency response station, the facility required modernization to improve functionality, comfort, and durability for continuous operation.

LSY Architects provided design services to revitalize key interior spaces, including full renovations of the kitchen and six bunkroom restrooms, as well as finish upgrades throughout both floors. The 835-square-foot kitchen renovation included demolition of existing finishes and installation of new polished concrete flooring, acoustical ceilings, energy-efficient lighting, casework and countertops, upgraded appliances — including a larger range — and improved pantry and storage configuration. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were updated to support the new layout and equipment.

The six bunkroom restrooms, totaling approximately 335 square feet, were modernized with new ceramic wall and floor finishes, upgraded plumbing fixtures, lighting, HVAC, and cabinetry. The project also replaced all ceramic tile flooring and carpet throughout the ground and second floors and repainted wall surfaces to refresh and unify the entire facility. Together, these improvements restore Building 51 as a modern, efficient, and resilient home base for NIH’s emergency response operations — balancing durability, comfort, and efficiency in support of the Fire Department’s mission.