Project: Defence Training Academy (DTA)
Project Location: RAF St Athan, Wales
Building: Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Administration and Training Facility
Client: Metrix Consortium
Architect: HLM
Engineering Consultants: Cundall
Services: Building Services, Facilities Infrastructure
Role: M&E Design Engineer
The largest Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the UK to date; as a result of the £12bn MOD Defence Training Review (DTR) programme - "The regeneration of the existing RAF base at St Athan, providing training for the Army, RAF and Royal Navy." The site will provide facilities and housing for over 11,000 junior and senior officers. Teaching disciplines include electro-mechanical engineering, information technology, logistics, security and intelligence, to name a few.
The process is composed of a complete landscape and master planning development, a strategic overhaul of the incoming services infrastructure; gas, electric, potable water and district heating, whilst at the same time maintaining the existing access and distributions to the RAF base. There will be an energy centre with a potential extension to provide services to a business park. It also comprises new accommodation, messes, classrooms and offices, an LRC and lecture theatres, a library museum, a medical and dental centre and a sports and leisure centre.
Responsibilities:
Cluster 6 Training and Admin – LRC. Working with the design team, evaluating architectural floor plans and producing mechanical and electrical distribution strategies. Taking acoustic modelling research to obtain a ventilation strategy suitable to the buildings use, orientation and position in proximity with the Hanger, aircraft flight lines and military equipment. Concept design in the form of Cross sectional Illustrative Schematics; with sustainability in mind using mechanical solutions where necessary. Room data sheets in conjunction with criteria from JSP 315 Scales.
