2025 Southwest Best Projects
Award of Merit, Government/Public Building: Surprise Rescue Oasis

Surprise Rescue Oasis
Ariz.
Award of Merit
Submitted by Willmeng Construction
Owner City of Surprise
Lead Design Firm LEA Architects
General Contractor Willmeng Construction
Civil Engineer Dibble Corp.
Aquatic Facility Engineer Aqua Design International
Architect Architekton
Co-locating emergency services facilities with high-demand recreational amenities on a 19-acre site presented the project team with a unique coordination challenge, compounded by an aggressive two-year schedule that required overlapping design and construction phases. Plans for several key elements were only 60% complete when construction began, leading to evolving designs and budgets during the build.
Strong collaboration and meticulous attention to material selection and procurement helped avoid delays, resulting in a unique, multifaceted public-service-themed community asset. The fire station includes four apparatus bays; a turn-out gear locker room; dedicated spaces for decontamination, equipment storage and emergency medical services; a dormitory; and a fitness room. It also houses the incident command center, which provides realistic virtual training simulations to enhance fire personnel preparedness, and a police substation for closer collaboration during major events.
On the recreation side, the swim center features a public pool with slides, a diving/warm-up pool and an eight-lane, 50-meter competitive pool capable of hosting local and regional meets. Adjacent to the pool is the Rescue Oasis Park, which offers a playground with climbing structures, a basketball court and a sand volleyball court. The splash pad includes a fire-truck-themed climbing structure with water features, tying into the public safety theme of the complex.


