Firehouse Square | Belmont, CA

At the corner of El Camino Real and O'Neill Avenue, a historic fire station marked a piece of Belmont's past, while the city faced a pressing present-day need for affordable housing. MidPen set out to meet that need with privately funded new construction that would honor what came before.

The design had to resolve several tensions at once. A 4-story apartment building of 66 homes sat over partial retail and a below-grade garage in Type VA and IA construction, fronting busy El Camino Real while backing onto the residential neighborhood at 5th Avenue. Part of the historic fire station facade needed to be salvaged and incorporated into the new structure. BDE Architecture worked with MidPen on a heavily varied facade treatment and roofline that steps down from El Camino toward the neighborhood, easing the transition in scale.

Completed in 2023, Firehouse Square gives residents a Community Room behind the historic facade where they can gather and organize social events, along with an After School Program space, a BBQ area and an outdoor playground. It delivers affordable homes while keeping a piece of Belmont history in view.

Address: 1300 El Camino Real, Belmont, CA, 94002

Client: MidPen

Number of Units: 66

Construction Type: VA / IA

Year Completed: 2023

Photographer: Craig Cozart

A multi-story residential building with cream and beige exterior, tiled roof, arched windows, and palm trees in front, set against a bright blue sky.
A multi-story building with a neon sign that reads 'THE FIREHOUSE' and lights on its exterior, set against a darkening sky with trees and streetlights in the foreground.
A storefront with a Mediterranean-style white stucco facade, arched windows, and a tiled roof, set against a modern beige apartment building with multiple windows and small balconies. There are two small trees in front, along with a black lamppost, a
Empty kitchen with white cabinets, a white stove, stainless steel sink, wood flooring, and a wall with windows and a door to outside.
An interior view of an apartment lobby or common area. There are mailboxes on a red accent wall, a round wooden table with decorative dried pink pampas grass, a large potted plant near a glass door, and a cozy blue velvet armchair with gold metal fra
Interior of a modern communal space with large arched windows, seating arrangements including chairs and a bar counter with barstools, colorful artwork on the wall, green plants, and a high ceiling with pendant lighting.
A multi-story beige building with red-tiled roof and several windows, located at a street corner with traffic lights. There is a street sign that reads 'O'Neill Ave' and another that reads 'El Camino Real'. The sky is clear and blue, and trees are vi