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Vincent and Gorbing announce completion of phase 1 of the redevelopment of Stevenage Police Station
The completion of Phase 1 of the new £13 million scheme to redevelop Stevenage Police Station has recently been announced by Vincent and Gorbing, Chartered Architects and Town Planners. Phase 1, a contemporary four-storey extension to the existing headquarters building, comprises a new custody suite, office accommodation and reception. The scheme, based in Lytton Way, adjacent to Stevenage town centre, provides over 7200 sq m of floor space and intends to provide a meaningful piece of architecture that makes a positive contribution to the townscape.
The new building is designed to not only introduce a contemporary style of architecture to the area, but also to acknowledge the existing police station and complement it where possible, with the red brickwork of the old building being re-interpreted in the red terracotta cladding of the new. The desire to maximise the use of natural daylight in the existing accommodation resulted in the new custody building being set away from the old 1970’s building, which also allows for flexibility in the future use of the site, including redevelopment options of the existing police station. Locating the new building in such a way has allowed the architects to maintain some of the main design principles as outlined by the clients (Hertfordshire Police Authority), such as maintaining the same vehicular entrance and exit positions off the dual carriageway, as well as retaining the existing 999 blue light emergency exit site onto the roundabout.
Mark Chandler, Architect and Director of Vincent and Gorbing, explains some of the choices made in the design: “We have designed a simple, contemporary four storey extension to the existing HQ building…we have used solar control principles with passive ventilation to the upper floors, in particular to the south facing façade and the materials chosen reflect the tonal quality of the existing building.”
John Edwards
Reporter
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