Fort Wayne Fire Station Project Opens Bidding Window

Construction firms bidding on Fort Wayne municipal work should note two more station replacements follow this $5.5 million Waynedale project.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Construction

Fort Wayne Fire Station Project Opens Bidding Window

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Fort Wayne has filed plans for a new $5.5 million fire station in Waynedale, with Schenkel Construction winning the bid to build it. The 11,540-square-foot station at 2050 Lower Huntington Road replaces an aging facility and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2027.

Why it matters

The current Station No. 5 has sewer and HVAC maintenance issues, which drove the push for replacement. It is the second of three stations targeted for replacement following a study, so the project signals a broader municipal building program that contractors and suppliers serving city work should track.

The city's estimated construction cost is $5,500,000 for an 11,540-square-foot station. The project is the second of three stations targeted for replacement after a city study, and planning took four years before documents were filed.

The players

Schenkel Construction

A construction firm that won the bid to build Fort Wayne Fire Station No. 5.

Fort Wayne City Council

The city legislative body that approved funding for the new fire station.

Fort Wayne Fire Department

The municipal fire department operating the station, responsible for public safety across the city.

The details

The station will include truck bays, sleeping areas, relaxation areas, offices, and a kitchen, and it will house water rescue equipment. Construction was originally expected to begin in 2022 after council funding approval, but planning documents were not filed until November 4, 2026. Schenkel Construction won the bid to build the station earlier this week.

Construction was originally expected to begin in 2022 after council approved funding.
Schenkel Construction won the construction bid earlier this week, the week of November 4, 2026.
Planning documents for the station were filed on November 4, 2026.
Construction is projected to be completed by December 31, 2027.

Market Landscape

The project is part of a three-station replacement program identified by a city study, placing Station No. 5 second in line. Construction awards under municipal capital programs like this one typically go to local and regional contractors through competitive bidding.

Contractors and building-trade suppliers bidding on municipal work should watch for the remaining two station replacements in Fort Wayne's study. Firms in the local construction market should factor in a project timeline running through December 31, 2027.

The takeaway

Municipal capital projects that move from study to council funding to contract award can take years, as this one did between its 2022 planned start and its 2026 bid. Operators in construction and related trades should track the next two station replacements in the city's study and the bid schedules that follow.