The Menlo Park Fire Protection District will celebrate the opening of a new administrative office building in a ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 9 a.m.

The new building is located at 170 Middlefield Road.

Instead of starting from scratch, the fire district purchased and renovated an existing structure for $5 million, according to Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman. Rebuilding the existing offices at 300 Middlefield Road would have cost an estimated $19.7 million, Mr. Schapelhouman said in a press release.

Twice as large as the district's previous office, the new structure will house chief officers, support staff, and the fire prevention bureau, according to Mr. Schapelhouman.

The district serves Atherton, Menlo Park and East Palo Alto.

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