Guide Dog Training Centre, Forfar, GDBA, Forfar, Scotland

• Client: GDBA
• Architect: Forum Architects
• Market Sector: Animal Welfare
• Services: Structural Engineering

This is the first of a new type of Guide Dogs training centres to replace older facilities which are no longer suitable for the training of guide dogs in the 21st Century.

In one building, it provides GDBA an integrated facility kennels, administrative and veterinary areas and an internal training arena with facilities for the public to view the training process and the welfare facilities. What sets this building apart from many other similar buildings is that the whole facility is designed, not only for people, but also as a training area for the dogs.

The structure is of braced steel frame construction with in-situ concrete first floors on steel decking supported on wide shallow strip and pad foundations. MLM worked closely with SEPA/Scottish Water to design a sustainable urban drainage system combining interlinked soakaways and infiltration trenches and feature attenuation basins within the landscaping. Externally the site is subdivided up into training and recreational areas with grass and sand dog runs and specialist character assessment areas, where the suitability of dogs is assessed.

This facility was completed and became operational in 2008 and now supplies Guide Dogs to the blind in Scotland.

Download a PDF project sheet

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