The Andover North Site Redevelopment Project provided a new Headquarters complex for the Defence Logistics Organisation in Andover. The site is a former RAF station and a number of the existing buildings were demolished to make way for the new accommodation. The project scope included; a flagship office building for 780 personnel, both uniformed and civilian; living accommodation for 68 Sergeants and Warrant Officers; mess facilities to support a membership of 220 personnel; a technical facility with workshops and laboratories; and a gatehouse with crèche facilities for 40 children.

A contextual approach was taken to the zoning and siting of the buildings; with the preservation of all mature tree specimens and hedges, the retention and refurbishment of the existing tennis courts and the introduction of a lake and wildlife garden. The triple storey office building is located at the heart of the site, with its principal entrance serving as the focus of the formal plaza and this links it with the mess accommodation. The offices are predominantly open plan and arranged in regular modules, serving the integrated project teams. They are dispersed around a central internal street, glazed at either end and topped with a vaulted fabric roof. As well as facilitating circulation, the street provides amenities in the form of breakout areas and a staff café.

The smaller Mess and Technical buildings are easily accessible from the main office complex and these, together with the Gatehouse and Creche, adopt a single palette of materials to ensure visual continuity and integrity. The building envelopes comprise; terracotta tiling, zinc and polymeric render panels, along with western red cedar rain screening. The £40m complex was delivered in 14 months using the Defence Estates’ new initiative of Prime Contracting with its emphasis on partnering and target costs. Through-life costs were a fundamental part of the design and sustainability was paramount. The project has been highly praised by both the DE and CABE and won a BIFM award for the Best PFI/ PPP Building in 2002.