Oak Bluffs officials stood in a semi-circle on Monday, shovels at the ready, in a symbolic gesture to mark the beginning of a major construction project. They faced a gray structure that’s been home to the fire department since 1973, but will soon be demolished.

In its place, builders will construct a new 19,970-square-foot station, which will serve as home base for the town’s ambulance workers and firefighters.

“No longer will they be trapped in a substandard structure that hampers their service,” said selectman Gregory A. Coogan in remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony Monday.

Town administrator Robert Whritenour (right) with Joe Sullivan, project manager. — Mark Lovewell

The new building will be modern and sophisticated, officials said in their remarks.

“The new station is going to allow our fire and EMS to move into the 21st century,” said fire chief John Rose.

The town awarded the $6.45 million contract to J.K. Scanlan, a construction firm based in East Falmouth, last month.

A vote at spring town meeting set aside $8.3 million for the overall project, and the J.K. Scanlan proposal is within that budget, town officials have said. J.K. Scanlan has committed to a 10-month time frame for construction. If all goes according to plan, the project should be complete by the fall of 2015, town administrator Robert L. Whritenour said Monday.

The firm built the public safety building on Nantucket and a fire rescue department in Falmouth, according to its website. For the Falmouth project, they worked with Mr. Whritenour, who was formerly town administrator in Falmouth.

John Scanlan, president of J.K. Scanlan, said he had worked well with the architects on many previous projects.

“The left hand knows what the right hand is doing,” he said.

During construction, fire service vehicles have been relocated to the highway building on County Road. Administrative offices have moved next door, to 133 Wing Road, a formerly vacant building. Mr. Rose said the highway department staff had been instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition.

“Richie Combra and his guys have been amazing in this process,” Mr. Rose said.