Blackpool Police HQ update 2 - curved walls provide clear line of site
Precast reinforced concrete construction
PCE Ltd are providing the custody suite for the new Police Headquarters for Lancashire Constabulary's West Division at Blackpool.
PCE were appointed by Main Contractor Willmott Dixon as specialist contractor on a design and build basis. The leading international and interdisciplinary property consultants McBains Cooper are providing architectural and engineering design services for Lancashire Constabulary and the state of the art new HQ will replace Bonny Street Police Station when completed in 2018.
Offsite construction
The 1,020m² facility consists of a number of reinforced precast concrete units consisting of
- 95 internal walls
- 26 corridor walls
- 52 duct units
- 87 solid slabs.
The overall expected erection period on site including finishing is 8 weeks and the maximum number of PCE employees on site at any time will be no greater than 12.
Curved construction
The aerial image (above) shows the external 5m high sandwich panels, exercise areas and slabs sitting on the internal walls. A clear line of vision is essential to enable a clear line of vision for all corridors from the charge desk area. The other external views show the type C finished sandwich panels which achieved a U-value of 0.27W/m²K. Window openings were cast in for site fit-out of window units at a later date. The M & E openings were also incorporated into design and manufacture to allow louvres to pass through on the first floor.
Lancashire Police's largest ever
A recent feature on the project in Construction News is called "Willmott lays down the law in Blackpool" and it highlights the fact that "the new West Division headquarters is the largest investment in a new building Lancashire Police has ever made". A version is also available on their website under the title Willmott Dixon builds Lancashire a new crimefighting HQ (subscription).
The report by Charlie Schouten quotes Willmott Dixon operations director Richard Wright, who said of the client, Lancashire Police's requirement:
“What they wanted was an iconic building that provides something that’s a long-term icon for Lancashire Police to say,‘We are investing,and this area is important to us.”
