HMS Sultan/ Flagship Training

Location: Gosport, Hampshire

Sector: Public Sector

Scope of Works: Design > Contracting

The Brief

In early 2007, Flagship Training approached Claremont about designing and refurbishing part of the HMS Sultan estate in Gosport, which had been designated for an upgrade to cope with the demands of the Network Rail contract. Flagship identified two specific classrooms that could be refurbished with the idea of providing modern training facilities for a private sector contract that could lead to other opportunities in turn. The building was essentially sound, but in need of a serious re-fit and, at the same time, a fit-out solution that embraced both the fabrics and finishes within the environment, including a break-out area, and the infrastructure for the classrooms.

The Solution

Claremont’s designers set about providing simple finishes for the interior of the classrooms, which had very different applications. However, the lighting became an important factor in the design scheme, so that the mood of the interior can be selected to fit the intensity of the courses. One classroom has both wall-mounted work stations for technology training whilst students can revolve into
collapsible work stations that are both flexible and mobile for learning from written material. The other classroom allows students to be educated in groups of four people, all with relevant audio-visual applications and other technological teaching aids from the current generation of products available.

The Result

The end result for the client is a leading-edge teaching environment within a period building that brings vitality and momentum to the work place. The attention to the subtle areas of the learning experience, especially in terms of lighting, the quality of the work station design and the technologies available even in the break-out area, means that the interior is treated with great respect by the students and improves the learning curve of the individual. Flagship Training uses the facility as an intelligent preview blueprint for other private and public sector contracts.