The Port of Long Beach is a global leader and the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade; handling trade valued at $200 billion annually and supporting 2.6 million jobs across the United States. To enhance better safeguard visiting ships, cargo and waterfront workers, the Port of Long Beach needed to enhance Long Beach Fire Department’s waterside and landside emergency response capabilities. Fireboat Station 15 and Fireboat Station 20 are the products of a $109 million Port of Long Beach program to preserve business continuity, security and economic interests.
Working with our partner Jacobs, Cornerstone was the structural engineer for Fireboat Station 20 which included the new 9,800 square foot, two story fire station building equipped with living quarters and a garage for two firefighting apparatus trucks. The station also supports the 16,000 square foot boat bay enclosure that houses the fireboat, Protector. The station is constructed behind the existing seawall that is underlain by a complex array of existing stone bulkheads, hydraulic fill, tieback anchors and abandoned wood piers. In addition, the project site is subject to significant liquefaction and site settlement during an earthquake. Consequently, the two-story steel and structural masonry structure is founded on a structural mat slab supported by precast driven piles with cast-in reinforced steel driving tips to penetrate the debris below the station and bypass the liquefiable layers.
The new station is not only safe but also environmentally friendly. It was designed to meet LEED Gold standards, which means it uses less energy and water, and has less of an impact on the environment. All building materials were selected primarily for their durability and low maintenance characteristics, ensuring they can withstand the harsh coastal environment.
The facility was also designed to account for climate change. The facility was designed to be high enough to handle rising sea levels, ensuring the station will be protected for years to come.
Fireboat Station 20 earned the prestigious 2025 National American Public Works Association (APWA) Public Works Projects of the Year for Structures $25 million to $75 million, the 2024 APWA Best Project of the Year Award in the Facilities category, 2025 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) California Engineering Excellence Honors Award, 2024 Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Federal/State/Local Government Award, and 2024 International Partnering Institute (IPI) John L. Martin Partnering Project of the Year Award
