USAFE / MOD Headquarters

Project Details

This is a purpose built 40,000sqft headquarters building for the USAF/DWS at Waterbeach. The design takes visual reference from the existing airfield buildings. We wanted the building to acknowledge the military heritage of its location, to connect it to the project’s brief and to its future occupancy.

Both the form and orientation of the building needed to meet the requirements for a passive response to building design by creating naturally ventilated offices. Fresh air is drawn in through the raised access floors and ceilings from the external wall into the central atria, which in turn provides stack effect ventilation at high level.

The building has two parallel, two storey, rectilinear offices which are accessed from the top floor, glazed, internal 'street'.

The concrete frame and floors are clad externally with brick and architectural concrete. An aluminium curtain wall glazing system, with an external steel and aluminium sun louvres system, sit to the east and west facades.

Client
USAFE / MOD

Appointment
Lead Architect