Design Engine unveils plans for maritime training centre in Hampshire

The proposal, submitted to Southampton City Council, will consolidate all teaching and training facilities for the specialist education centre into a new integrated L-shaped building within a remodelled campus.

It will include a firefighting training ground and a pool for survival and helicopter underwater escape training.

The development, located just east of Southampton, will be used to train Hampshire Fire and Rescue staff as well as academy students.

Design Engine director David Gausden said the Warsash scheme was an opportunity to enhance the academy’s campus and to develop an architectural approach that accommodates the ’varied technical requirements of the training facility within this coastal setting’.

According to the architect, the academy’s existing classrooms and training facilities are approaching the end of their life. Of the nine buildings on the retained site, four are temporary prefabs not suitable for redevelopment.

The proposed new buildings reference coastal and dockyard architecture where structures typically take the form of wide-span gable-ended buildings designed to accommodate boats and equipment.

The new buildings are primarily clad in a textured, dark sinusoidal metal typical of marine architecture. This makes the scheme ’visually recessive and non-reflective’ against the backdrop of trees, while also making use of signature colour highlights for branding and signage.

Design Engine’s science and mathematics centre for Charterhouse School in Godalming was shortlisted for RIBA’s South East Awards last month.

The practice also recently completed a new learning centre for Downe House, a private boarding school in Berkshire.

Subject to approval, construction is due to start in January.