Architecture
Architectural services and design management solutions for smart, sustainable buildings.
North Weald Air Traffic Control & Fire Rescue Facility
Our architects developed the design proposal for a unique, dual-purpose facility from concept design through to the technical detail stage and oversaw the construction phase (RIBA Design Stages 2-7). The project was key to enabling the redevelopment of redundant parts of the airfield.
The North Weald Air Traffic Control (ATC) & Fire Rescue Facility combines a fire station and an air traffic control tower for North Weald Private Airfield. The facility comprises three full-size fire appliance bays, a training room, mess facilities, a gym, an office, and a prefabricated ATC room.
Key details
Project name
North Weald Air Traffic Control & Fire Rescue Facility
Client
Qualis Group (Epping Forest District Council)
Location
Epping, Essex
Services provided
- Architecture
- Lead Designer
- CDM principal designer
Delivering sustainable design for a low-carbon future
We successfully integrated various sustainability initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, conserve water, and minimise waste while ensuring the building met its functional requirements efficiently, including:
- Optimising the internal space of the building to reduce its overall footprint, and helping to minimise its carbon impact
- Incorporating clerestory glazing to maximise natural light whilst reducing thermal gain and reliance on artificial lighting
Selecting low-carbon materials and using recycled elements for construction where possible - Prioritising the use of proprietary and procured materials of standard size to minimise waste
- Incorporating low-carbon, energy-efficient appliances, passive infrared (PIR) light sensors and volatile organic compound (VOC) free materials in the interior fit-out to promote environmental and end-user health
In collaboration with the services engineers, we implemented additional sustainable solutions for other functions of the site, including:
- Integration of solar panels and an air source heat pump to utilise sustainable energy for electrical power and central heating
- Installation of an attenuation tank with a petrol interceptor, low-flush toilets and flow-regulated showers to address the conservation of water
- Permeable paving and drainage solutions to manage water runoff and minimise waste
Challenge
The facility presented several challenges due to its dual-purpose nature and the operational requirements of the airfield, which we needed to address, including:
- Establishing an optimum site location for disparate operational needs
- Enabling and enhancing a possible new site entrance project
- Considering acoustic disturbance to occupants
- And, most importantly, completing construction before a critical date to coincide with the closure of the existing facility
The location of the facility and its height were dictated by optimising the visibility of the runway and taxiways, established through specialist computer modelling and verified and replicated on-site using a raised platform. Transitional slopes (OLS), an aviation industry constraint, also influenced the facility’s height and location.
As a publicly funded entity, tight budgetary demands required us to design a combined facility that carefully integrated multiple structural and specialised elements within a compact footprint. This involved integrating the ATC’s in-situ concrete support structure with a lift shaft, stairwell, and service risers, which demanded considerable design coordination to maximise efficiency.
We engaged with stakeholders to develop the adjacency strategy to ensure the room placement optimised emergency response needs with budget and statutory obligations.
Solution
The facility was key to unlocking a large industrial development on the airfield and was subject to strict programme and cost constraints. To meet these demands, we utilised off-site fabrication and incorporated standardised components throughout the design.
Drawing on our experience delivering aviation and fire station projects, we helped the client rationalise and refine their brief. Our extensive understanding of the operational challenges in fire and rescue facilities ensured efficient stakeholder consultations and mitigated the risk of oversights or late changes during subsequent design stages.
As the Lead Designer, we coordinated design across all disciplines, enabling the client to focus on other aspects of the wider project. We also structured the Building Control to streamline information compilation and submission for the team and ensure clear categorisation for the Inspector, leading to an efficient approval with minimal supplementary or construction information required.
