Relocation of police headquarters and operational functions into a new centralised base

Northern Accommodation Building

The new Northern Accommodation Building was required to provide modern office accommodation with breakout spaces and informal meeting areas, along with a gym and enhanced staff welfare facilities, over three storeys. It was conceived to act as a central base for policing in the north of Northamptonshire, housing around 400 operational and administrative staff.

Pick Everard was appointed to design and manage the delivery of the project from start to finish. We were able to deliver a flagship facility which has since become an exemplar, having hosted visits from other police forces interested in its design and operation.

The accommodation was required to house multiple user groups, with the ground floor housing operational response staff and other floors providing accommodation for administrative staff. The existing accommodation had to remain operational throughout the construction works, and the design had to consider the needs of a complex range of stakeholders, both internal and external, to protect front line services and deliver sustainable efficiencies.

Our designs had to provide flexible space for up to 400 staff which is energy efficient and easy to operate. We also needed to consider the potential expansion of the building in the future to accommodate increasing demand for new services and technological innovations in policing.

Consultation with multiple stakeholders through design workshops and briefings enabled our design team to develop models which incorporated the client's requirements, and enabled stakeholders to influence the final design within budget and programme parameters. Further, regular client briefings enabled our team to keep individuals informed of the progress and develop a phasing plan, ensuring services could remain operational during the construction works.

The concrete frame allowed for large uninterrupted spans between columns with the thermal mass maintaining heat. Loadbearing masonry with reinforced concrete slab to the roof allowed for high acoustic levels to be achieved with minimal detailing requirements. The building also benefits from zoned and split heating and ventilation systems separating the ground floor response area so this can run 24/7 without the need for full building operation, significantly reducing energy consumption.

Our civil engineering design included a full 3D model of the external car park areas to create a cut/fill balance, providing capital cost savings by identifying where arising materials could be re-used to minimise off-site waste disposal, and providing safe access for vehicles and pedestrians.