The building contains highly specialist spaces, such as self-contained and enclosed firing ranges, tactical training facilities, together with staff offices, classrooms and other related services. The new centre supports over 300 firearms officers from Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Police Forces each year.
Designing a substantial police training facility that blends seamlessly into the base of a wonderful disused quarry was a unique challenge that required an unusual approach – perceiving the building as an integrated part of the landscape. The brief was made even more challenging due to the site having significant habitat issues. The presence of nesting Peregrine falcons meant that the design and construction had to be phased around the nesting season to avoid disturbance.
The facilities were designed to be simple, practical, safe, secure and robust whilst the front of house and admin spaces have richer palette of materials and a more refined aesthetic. The result of the consultation and the unusual design approach is a simple and elegant building that complements the natural beauty of the quarry, incorporating car parking and extensive landscape habitat, whilst providing highly specialist visitor and training facilities.
Photography by Simon Kennedy
