PriDE manages Defence Estates’ South East Regional Prime Contract (SE RPC). Valued at around £380m, the SE RPC is one of five regional prime contracts currently in place in the UK.

May 2009

New training and conference facility at DSL Beaconsfield gets a Royal visit

The Defence School of Languages (DSL) marked the opening of the refurbished Prince Michael of Kent Theatre with a Royal Visit and opening ceremony in May 2009. 

Those involved with the refurbishment, staff and students welcomed His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent to the ceremony. His Royal Highness has had a long standing involvement with the school since attending a Russian interpreter course there in 1968.

The theatre, previously Gorell Hall, was the original camp theatre, being the only facility on site large enough to hold the entire station’s personnel at one time. However, following years of neglect the building struggled with damp issues, failed heating and poor lighting.

Thanks to the hard work of the PriDE team, and subcontractors Medway Construction Services Ltd, the new facility is now a multi-functioning building which can be used for a variety of events. As well as a lecture hall, presentation facility and conference centre, the theatre has the capability to be transformed into an examination centre or language laboratory.

 

Dramatic changes
New energy saving lighting has been installed, which reduces maintenance costs and associated health and safety risks thanks to its lowering mechanism. The heating has been vastly improved with a stand alone system which includes a high efficiency condensing boiler and new roofing and guttering has cured the damp issues.

A state-of-the-art AV system and two fully equipped and removable lecterns on the stage have been installed, enabling essential mandatory lectures to be delivered to all station personnel.

SER on site, Kay Tyson, PriDE’s Project Manager, Alan Erasmus and MD of Medway Construction Services Ltd, Graham Hunt worked closely to ensure that this project delivered a facility of the highest standard for the school, and was provided on time and within budget. The £400k project was delivered in just 12 months including the design period, and the staff and students are delighted with the new theatre.

 

Fully compliant
The theatre, stage and changing room areas were fully refurbished and upgraded, ensuring the facility fulfils its original use as a fully functional theatre. It is now compliant with building regulations, with DDA access and emergency exits installed. The foyer area now includes a DDA toilet, and additional seating and power sockets for students to use whilst waiting for examinations or private study area out of hours.

Site History
The Defence School of Languages provides specialist language tuition in over 30 languages for the British and Allied armed services and related civilian personnel, as well as English for foreign defence forces.