215 Commerce Street, Fire Station No.1, 1907; 1983. Designed by the important architectural firm of Sanguinet and Staats and built in 1907 by contractor Samuel A. Tomlinson, this fire station served Fort Worth’s central business district and surrounding neighborhoods until 1980. The adept brickwork, as evidenced in the second story rustication and corbelling, and the general exuberance of the design give this building a strong visual presence even though it is surrounded by office towers. The southeast corner of the station is “clipped” at an angle to more easily allow horses pulling equipment to enter the rear station door from Third St. Fire Station No. 1 is now part of the Sundance Square project, and the main floor houses a “150 Years of Fort Worth” exhibit developed by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The rehabilitation project was carried out in 1983 in conjunction with the erection of the City Center I office building. 3-DI was the working architect, and Linbeck Construction Corporation was the contractor for the project.
