Successful completion of Phase 1 of the single living accommodation project at Portsmouth Naval Base led to WGI’s retention within the original design team, when Balfour Beatty negotiated the contract for the second phase.
This phase entailed the fast-track delivery of 300 self-contained single rooms with en suite facilities. The site suffered from a restricted footprint with adjacent car parking, giving rise to security concerns - a challenge which was required to be addressed in the design. In common with Phase 1, construction had to be phased and controlled to minimise any impact on the security and functionality of the 24/7 operational base.
Planning approval was obtained by WGI very quickly - including engagement with and approval by local conservation groups due to the project’s historic setting.
The innovative, eight-storey block again made use of extensive prefabrication techniques - this time to bathrooms, plant rooms, services ladders and cladding. This enabled early occupation by the MoD, and car parking was retained on a very limited site footprint.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Client: Balfour Beatty for DIO
Value:£14m
Service:Architecture: Full Design
When Costain - working as part of a Serco management team - won a design and build competition for an £86 million redevelopment of the international Senior Officer Military Training Academy, WGI acted as Executive Architect to develop the design through to construction services.
The objective was an increase in capacity for the existing campus, which provided a range of practical and theoretical training with on-site accommodation and support facilities such as dining, sports and welfare facilities. A key element of the brief was that no disruption take place at the base, which operates 24/7 with a high level of security with defined term periods. This required careful phasing of all works. Also essential were robust, low-maintenance construction over the lifecycle of the facility, innovative methods to ensure early delivery, early stakeholder and facilities management sign-off, and accessibility to all areas.
All criteria were satisfied or exceeded, owing not least to the use of innovative building and finishing techniques and carrying out risk and value engineering analysis workshops.
Location: Shrivenham, Oxfordshire
Client: Costain for Serco
Value: £86m
Service: Architecture: Construction Design
Balfour Beatty was one of four parties invited to submit a scheme and guaranteed maximum price for single living accommodation for ratings both permanently and temporarily based at Portsmouth Naval Base. Existing accommodation was in poor quality, high rise dormitory blocks with up to ten men sharing each space. On winning the bid, Balfour Beatty engaged WGI to assist in the planning application submission and delivering the £35 million scheme in a pain / gain incentivised contract format.
Challenges included delivering the 575 self-contained en suite single rooms as quickly as possible on a very restricted site area within a 24/7 operational base - with accompanying traffic congestion and high levels of security. The project also had to be phased to allow demolition and rebuilding in tandem.
Planning approval was achieved in a very limited timescale - including engagement and approval by local conservation groups. Widespread use of prefabricated and pre-delivery tested volumetric double-room units minimised the impact on the base.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Client: Balfour Beatty for DIO
Value: £35m
Service: Architecture: Full Design
As project support provider to Mott MacDonald working with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, WGI was invited to submit designs for a new 11,600m² aircraft hangar and maintenance facility for the new Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft. The firm was required to provide options and work with aircraft specialists to reflect technical and servicing requirements associated with this complex aircraft, which requires both permanent power and data connection even when parked. The brief also demanded the provision of safe access and alternative exits around armaments/ballistics and ejection seat maintenance areas. Better value was also a requirement, to be achieved by sharing offices and workshop facilities.
Complex data and computer facilities were provided in secure and classified areas of the £15 million complex. The project made extensive use of natural light in the large deep plan area to reduce running costs and create a pleasant working environment. A BREEAM rating of ‘Very good’ was targeted during design, and achieved on handover.
Location: RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire
Client: Typhoon Maintenance Facility
Value: £15m
Service: Architecture: Full Design
