Old Fire Station, Port of Spain

The Old Fire Station is located at the corner of Hart and Abercromby Streets in the heart of the Old Port of Spain. It is listed on the Heritage Asset Inventory as a Trinidad and Tobago historic sight. It was built in 1897 and refurbished in 2000.

The Old Fire Station was originally the headquarters of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services. From 1989 to 1999, it was the home of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, founded and directed by Nobel Prize-winning poet Derek Walcott. The building is now a part of the National Library complex in Port of Spain.

The restored building is a careful combination of old and new construction techniques. It is the first restoration in Port of Spain using reinforced concrete. It stands out well against the brutalist structures taking over the city center. It complements the styles of Red House and Trinity Cathedral with quoins and stone markings.

The Fire Station's high square tower once provided an ideal lookout over the town. Well-designed windows afforded effective cross-ventilation. Inside there is an imposing cast-iron staircase. The slate roof is supported by highly decorated trusses. The overall design marks a smooth transition from traditional to modern architecture.