Crowthorne Community Tri-Service Station reopened following an expansive redevelopment in May 2020 and serves as a shared location for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), Thames Valley Police and South-Central Ambulance Service. The facility was uniquely delivered during the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic and was completed following Home Office guidance as part of the critical infrastructure arrangements.
Design Approach
The design of the new station ensures that operational requirements and processes have been incorporated into the building with an operationally-led design approach.
This station, alongside Theale and Hungerford, also serves as a public asset, with community rooms and large glazed doors to provide community integration.
The project is part of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority’s Capital Investment programme. A vital focus of the new design is to provide a recognisable property brand across the Service area, in line with Theale and Hungerford. The new station will provide a base for all three blue light services, as well as much-needed, community-accessible facilities in the heart of the village.
The most important outcome for the design is having a fit-for-purpose facility that supports the role of modern emergency services personnel, as well as the local community that they serve.
The facility includes a two-vehicle appliance bay, which will support emergency response to a wider range of incidents. Rapid deployment parking locations with charging points have been incorporated into the “apron” design, allowing for both ambulance and police rapid response vehicles to mobilise from the facility. Shared welfare facilities, such as changing, showers, toilets and kitchen are provided for all service personnel, as well as the use of the community room for larger training and meeting function and the welfare gym. Space has also been accommodated for both the local Ambulance and Police teams to avail of hot desk facilities to carry out day-to-day, desk-based functions.
Facilities provided support both service personnel and the community, creating an integrated station which serves the public in more ways than one.
A compact gym has been incorporated, due to the importance of fitness standards for emergency services personnel. New space has been provided for external training for all three services, and the existing training tower was refurbished and brought up to current safety standards
Additionally, to create a building for all and to be at the heart of the community, a community room was created within the new station to be used by local community groups.
Within the appliance bay, a Breathing Apparatus room was created that forms the first stage of the post event decontamination process and the safe storage of replacement BA cylinders. Creating a modern work environment was key and the large glazed doors to the appliance bay not only allow great levels of daylight for the emergency services teams working within the building but also allows the public to see into and connect with the operational functions of the building.
