The Project
Robert Whetham Associates (RWA) have been recently commissioned by Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority (HWFA) as M&E (mechanical and electrical) designers for the extension to the Leominster Strategic Training Facility.
The scheme will consist of the conversion and extension of the existing Leominster Police Station to create a Combined Police and Fire Station Hub, and the creation of a Strategic Training Facility on the same site.
This will allow for collaboration with adjoining service providers West Mercia Police (WMP).
The conversion and extension of the existing Leominster Police Station will consist of the remodelling of areas for usage as a Fire Station and extension to incorporate an appliance bay, plant room, BA room, kit room drying room and shower facilities.
The new build Strategic Training Facility will consist of a clean classroom area, and a fire training area where residential and commercial / industrial training scenarios shall take place.
In the fire training area, a fire training simulation system will be provided that will generally consist of live fire generation training equipment with LPG propane fuelled fireplaces and a control system together with smoke extraction and alarm systems.
External areas of the site will also be remodelled to provide areas for training purposes where various training areas and training rigs shall be located.
Our Solution
We have recently submitted RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) stage 2 designs and have commenced with the stage 3 design.
As part of the stage 2 design RWA reviewed the existing utility supplies and capacities, as well as the existing services. We identified primary service routes and provided a strategic report to outline the design intent of the M&E services for the new Strategic Training building and the remodelled and extended Combined Emergency Services hub. The extension to the Combined Emergency Services hub will accommodate three drive-through appliance bays and associated ancillary accommodation including a drying room, breathing apparatus room and showers.
Internally, the existing building will be reconfigured to accommodate both police and fire service users in lieu of existing rooms that are no longer being utilised.
RWA will be taking this scheme to RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) stage 3, by the end of which the architectural, building services and structural engineering designs will have all been developed and checked. From there, it is the intention that RWA will be novated across and employed by the contractor for RIBA stages 4 (detailed design) and 5 (consultancy/project guidance).
Solution Benefits
RWA’s designs will deliver the vision of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service for a specialised, combined training facility within its operational area and specifically within North Herefordshire.