Defence & MOD Projects

Defence & MOD Projects

With over 16 years’ staff experience providing architectural consultancy services to the Defence estate, we have the resources and expertise to deliver defence projects of any size quickly and cost effectively.

Our work with the Highland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (Highland RFCA) and Lowland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (Lowland RFCA) includes buildings such as cadet centres, army reserve centres, firing ranges, armouries, ammunition stores, specialist vehicle parking, equipment storage, and residential accommodation.

Recent projects include:

• an assessment study for a new University Officer Training Corps building in Glasgow;
• a feasibility study for a cadet centre in Keith;
• refurbishments at Army Reserves Centres (Mid-Craigie, Strathmore Avenue, Invergowrie and Arbroath);
• a cadet training centre in Boddam; and
• a new cadet centre for Peterhead.

Current projects include:

• a new Army Reserves Centre in Livingston;
• a wing headquarters for the Air Training Corps in Edinburgh;
• a cadet centre in Dingwall; and
• facilities management works at five cadet training centres.

We are familiar with Ministry of Defence (MOD)/ Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) procurement procedures, relevant Joint Service Publications (JSP), design guides, statutory approval procedures and their sustainability policies including the MOD Sustainability and Environmental Appraisal Tools (SEAT) handbook and Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology (DREAM) assessments.

We are also aware of the constraints imposed on projects by the Defence Information Infrastructure Programme (DII).

Specialist Skills:

• Investment appraisals/ strategic options appraisals, including whole life costing and calculation of net present values.
• Specialist building design, including army reserve centre accommodation, cadet centres, firing ranges, ammunitions stores, and armouries.
• DREAM assessments.
• Energy efficient, ‘fabric first’ approach to building design to Passive House principles.
• Net zero carbon and carbon negative buildings.
• Specialists building specification and design to achieve DREAM ‘Excellent’ ratings, e.g. natural daylighting, passive design and net zero carbon design, internal emission and indoor air quality management, innovative approaches, environmental profiling and responsible sourcing, building adaptability and disassembly, robust design, flood risk management, etc.
• Work on listed buildings.
• Project delivery to tight deadlines imposed by government funding rules.