Creating a bespoke hub for soldier welfare at Pirbright

Our multidisciplinary design expertise, combined with innovative use of 3D modelling and virtual reality, was pivotal to the development of The Soldiers’ Centre at Alexander Barracks, a purpose-built welfare facility.

Situated near the towns of Aldershot and Guildford, Army Training Centre (ATC) Pirbright delivers Basic Training for new recruits. The new Soldiers’ Centre at Alexander Barracks provides centralised welfare support to these recruits – a place where they can relax between the challenges of the course, and where families can gather for the passing out parades that mark successful completion.

WSP designed the centre for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). The project was jointly funded by the Army and the Army Central Fund (ACF). It consists of a two-storey building with retail and food outlets, a games room and cinema as well as other facilities and space to host families attending the weekly passing out parades.

Supporting our client from inception to completion

Our multidisciplinary design team worked on all stages of the project: from initial site selection, through design to RIBA Stage 3 and into construction by contractor Henry Brothers, during which we provided technical support and contract administration to our client.

We began by identifying the best site within Alexander Barracks, comparing three potential options in detail and in consultation with stakeholders who operate welfare services, such as the Royal Voluntary Service (formerly known as the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service). The chosen location is at the centre of the barracks site, close to living accommodation, classrooms and the laundrette. This choice of location also enabled existing facilities to remain in use while the new building was constructed.

We examined these existing welfare spaces, which were spread across the barracks, and prepared concept designs to test if the proposed accommodation would fit within the budget and constraints of the new site. To accommodate services from the existing 3,600m² of facilities into a new 2,000m² building, we focussed on combining some of the existing facilities to creating multi-use spaces.

Location

United Kingdom

During the week, the open spaces on the ground and first floors form relaxing areas for recruits. On Fridays, these same spaces can accommodate families gathering to celebrate passing out parades, while other recruits are still using the rest of the building. Features like atrium seating break the space up so that it functions just as well for fewer people as for larger groups.

We paid equally close attention to the landscape surrounding the building and its relationship to other parts of the Alexander Barracks site. In addition to the parade ground, the project creates a new route through the site – with an open elevation on that side of the building welcoming people into the area. Other sides have more private entrances, and the shop remains accessible when the main part of the building is hosting events.

Using virtual reality to engage with stakeholders

With so many stakeholders involved in the project, it was vital for us to engage with them in the right way at the right time. Our early designs used sketches to convey the context of the building. Then we progressed to 3D modelling. This enabled us to make use of virtual reality so stakeholders could walk through the design and experience the spaces for themselves. For example, we could show how staff sitting in one area would be able to monitor the recruits in another unobtrusively.

This was a project led by design and engagement. We worked hard to engage with all the stakeholders to understand their needs and create a multifunctional, flexible building that works well for the recruits.

David Hulme Associate Director

David Hulme Associate Director

The resulting building is welcoming and multi-functional. It’s also sustainable, meeting Net Zero Energy (NZE) regulated criteria and achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating under the Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology (DREAM). The glulam structural timber frame reduces embodied carbon while photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof deliver on-site renewable energy generation.

Meeting specific defence requirements

We worked with the contractor to ensure the glulam frame cross laminated timber, and glazed curtain walling could meet defence requirements and fire regulations. Together we were able to show that the glulam would provide the same level of performance as other materials. We created a glazed side of the building that maintains safety and security while drawing in natural light during the day and exuding a welcoming glow at night.

Our design for the Soldiers’ Centre at Alexander Barracks also had to consider how the building would fit with the Army’s wider plans to modernise and consolidate its training centres. This task was made easier by our long involvement in the process. WSP supported a previous national-level study that identified ATC Pirbright as a key site for this rationalisation. Then, in 2018, we worked on strategic planning that identified Alexander Barracks as the preferred option for intensifying the existing training site at Pirbright.

This wider Alexander Barracks Project is jointly funded by the Defence Estate Optimisation (Army) Programme, the Army Estate Modernisation Programme and the Basic Training Adaptation Programme. It aims to create a centre of excellence for Basic Training on a single site, and the Soldiers’ Centre at Alexander Barracks will have a vital role to play in that future.