Background
In 2019 Rollalong was approached by Aspire Defence Services for assistance with the design and build of a new café for the MoD at Larkhill in Wiltshire which had to be linked to an existing building and used as an interactive learning hub. Rollalong won the contract to design and build the 283m² community hub and café.
Rollalong has a strong long-term relationship with the MoD and long-standing experience in delivering modular buildings at various MoD sites. Larkhill has been the headquarters of the Royal School of Artillery since 1915 and provides a centre of excellence for artillery training with a world-class reputation.
Brief
As the community hub and café building is to be used by both military personnel and the local community, it needed to be of a sturdy design using robust materials. The internal areas needed to be uncluttered and easy to clean while providing quieter areas for patrons to enjoy their refreshments unaccompanied.
The building contains dining, seating and meeting areas with a food servery and toilets. The building also needed to be flexible enough to allow for meetings and functions organised by the local community.
Design and installation
Our in-house design team worked with the client to ensure that the resulting design allowed for a fully functioning café while still accommodating the needs of the community. The building also required a low-maintenance exterior with a softer frontage to help better define its status as a community building.
The internal spaces were designed to accommodate patrons of all abilities with level floors, wide access points, Document M facilities and a low servery counter. Consideration was also taken to ensure that heating and ventilation were sufficient to avoid the stuffiness and condensation associated with a regimental canteen and that there were sufficient circulation spaces for the constant movement of patrons within this busy establishment.
Logistics on site were controlled and managed in co-ordination with the MoD to ensure that deliveries and crane operations did not impact on the scheduled activities of the Larkhill garrison.
Outcomes
The building is designed to be run and co-ordinated by volunteers and supported by Army Welfare Services Community Support, enabling the local community to develop skills and engage in learning opportunities created by the project. As the Army Rebasing Programme has brought many more service families to the area, it is anticipated that the community hub will improve local amenities, develop opportunities for the local community and help inspire community integration with the nearby Larkhill Garrison.
Delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the project was completed in October 2020.