Wernick Buildings Provide Modular Solution for RFCA Barking
The Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations for Greater London provide informed support to London’s Reserve Forces and Cadets – Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army– by raising awareness and developing relationships with communities, employers and veterans. They also manage and maintain the Reserve and Cadet estate throughout Greater London.
Needing a number of Joint cadet centres rebuilt, the RFCA required a reliable provider able to roll out a series of similar buildings to a number of sites across Greater London. Requiring a low maintenance and cost-effective building solution, the RFCA knew that modular construction provided a quicker solution.
“In many locations we have been able to use modular construction.” Architect & Contract Administrator Ian Simpson told us. “The original cedar clad Spooner huts were of prefabricated construction, a system suitable for developing building solutions, both for future and replacement projects.”
Wernick have provided at least 6 separate centres in the Greater London area, including; Twickenham, Sidcup, Carshalton, Upminster, Whipps Cross and Barking. On each project Wernick provided building accommodation including shared classrooms, offices, drill halls and storage space with an external area for a parade ground. Wernick also provided a quick time turnaround – with RFCA Barking being built in just 3 weeks and installed in one day! Each new building was built in a controlled environment at Wernick’s specialist factory in South Wales.
Ian continued. “As architects; we work to develop modular fabrication, a system that can provide straightforward, on- going solutions, when the Client’s brief calls for repetition in accommodation standards. That is the case with the RFCA buildings; where we need a similar scale and the same kind of design –meaning that we could repeat the building tender process.”
RFCA Barking provides an excellent example of the quality and space delivered by Wernick. In this Joint cadet centre, a glazed screen was installed in the lobby, along with sun pipes in the corridors to make the space feel lighter. Special Secure stores were also constructed. Two flagpoles were installed outside, along with a Tennamast radio mast for radio transmissions. The building’s Duraclad boarding exterior was completed together with photovoltaic panels on the roof providing a sustainable form of energy for the centre, in line with BREEAM.
Wernick Buildings are presently working on projects for the South East RFCA (SERCA) in Didcot, Witney and Wokingham.
To learn more about MOD buildings from Wernick click here.