London & South East Premier Construction

Land Rover BAR

Sir Ben Ainslie at the Portsmouth-based Land Rover BAR HQ
Written by Roma Publications
Sir Ben Ainslie at the Portsmouth-based Land Rover BAR HQ

Sir Ben Ainslie at the Portsmouth-based Land Rover BAR HQ

Ben Ainslie Racing, the team behind the most successful sailor in Olympic history, has recently joined forces with Land Rover in a new global partnership at a bespokely made HQ named Land Rover BAR.

The team’s new home can be found in Portsmouth and will be the base whereby engineers from Land Rover will deliver advanced technology expertise to the British Challenger for the 35th America’s Cup.

Jaguar Land Rover’s Advanced Engineering Team has already started work on a number of design challenges, where they can contribute their unique knowledge with the hope of being able to bring home the prestigious title.

The America’s Cup is the oldest international trophy in sport and Britain has never won it to date.

Land Rover BAR HQ has been built to BREEAM excellent standards and provides the ideal purpose-built facility to house all of the team’s activities from design to sailing, sports science to marketing, whilst acting as a showcase for sport, innovation, technology and sustainability in the heart of Portsmouth.

Now fully operational, the venue has been sustainably designed with twice the amount of thermal performance of a standard building due to additional insulation, as well as natural ventilation and light provided through a central atrium.

Camber Development,

Land Rover BAR has achieved a 70% improvement in air permeability of building compared to building regulations and an A/A+ rating for the majority of structural materials used. Almost all of the demolition materials were recycled including the demolished concrete which was crushed and reused to form the HQ’s foundations.

On site the HQ boasts 30 staff and visitor cycle racks, two BAR electric bikes and has estimated that more than 40% of their staff are using sustainable travel to work.

432 solar PV panels cover all the available roof area and 100% renewable electricity has been used. The office spaces all benefit from natural lighting through large windows and the central atrium.

Matthew Williams, the Director of HGP Architects Limited who delivered the architectural services on the scheme, commented:

“Using modern methods of construction – and with technologies incorporated into the design to seek carbon neutral credentials – Ben Ainslie and his team have sought to commission a team home that brings together the three key functions of boat design and team training; boat building; and a Visitor and Education Centre.

Camber Development

“HGP Architects design delivers each unique function of the building in a hierarchy of cascading layers linked together through a central light well that connects everyone to the heart of the team and the boat.”

A number of contractors, architects, designers and subcontractors have worked together to bring Land Rover BAR’s vision into a reality. Those involved include HGP Architects Limited, Allied Developments, Base Structures, Couch Perry & Wilkes LLP, Jack Tighe, Mackley’s, Overbury, Quartz Project Services and Reuby and Stagg Limited. Others include TA Colbourne, Lady Georgie Ainslie and Lady Francesca Grade, Bulldog Gear, KX Gym, Low Carbon, MDL, Nyetimber and Prism.

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Roma Publications