Redmond Community Bids Farewell to the Old Fire House Teen Center
The historic Redmond building with a lasting legacy to be demolished and rebuilt
The Old Fire House Teen Center community celebration on April 4, 2026 in Redmond, Washington. Photo: Jason Miller/Redmond Moments.
Article by Madeline Virginia
Originally published July 6, 2026
Redmond Moments Newspaper, Summer 2026 Edition
On April 4, the City of Redmond invited the community to a final party at the Old Fire House Teen Center to say goodbye to the historic building.
The event featured performances from bands who played at the OFH across the decades and was attended by local teens, alumni and alumnae, city employees and community members.
The center leaves a profound legacy among teens and alums in the region. The OFH served as a home to grunge/punk youth, as a safe hangout space and as a distinct music performance space.
Redmond City Council voted to demolish and rebuild the center in the same location after a year-long analysis following an abrupt closure. The building had failed a safety inspection that determined it contained hazardous materials like lead paint and asbestos.
Among the crowd at the farewell party was a group not satisfied with the ending of the era. The clear sentiment from those local teens is that current services don’t come close to replacing the OFH.
The city nurtured something special in the Old Fire House, and it is apparent that the community longs for a continuation of the legacy, rather than the end.
Redmond is expanding fast, and part of the expansion includes the replacement of older buildings that serve a facet of the city’s cultural identity. A large part of Redmond has the same, modern “corporate” look: square, tall buildings with clean and symmetrical faces. Part of the fear of losing a building like the OFH with so much character is the notion that the replacement will lose the flaws, the charm and the distinction of the old.
A standalone building with a dedicated performance space fostered creativity and confidence in art. Features like a working kitchen (left over from when firefighters lived in the building while on call) gave teenagers a sense of home. All this magic combined to allow those who may have felt different to instead feel at peace, feel belonging, feel friendship, feel a chance to pursue a life that is their own.
The first month of the Old Fire House demolition, now completed, involved careful removal of hazardous materials. Demolition of the building will continue through July, and the City has applied for an expedited construction process with the state of Washington to replace the center.
Local filmmaker Starlyn Stout is creating a documentary archiving the legacy and impact of the Old Firehouse Teen Center. Follow the project’s journey and support it here:
Explore the Redmond Historical Society’s Digital Exhibit
Stay involved with development of the new teen center
