YOI Glen Parva

The design competition was to provide 360 places for young males aged between 15 to 17 years old. It included an education and learning skills centre, recreation multi -faith facilities and all other support facilities.

The project was to be built on 7.8 hectares of former sports fields attached to an existing facility. Most of the construction was within the 5.2m fence of the existing facility, clad with sheet steel to provide a safe and secure environment for construction workers.

Nearly all existing YOI premises are inherited from the adult estate, and so this project presented an opportunity to design the first stand alone facility to be purpose built in the UK and tailored to the needs of young offenders. It also presented an opportunity to set new sustainability standards for custodial premises and was designed to Pasivhaus Standards. The needs of young males led the design and generated a joyful architecture of colourful and robust solutions which visually minimised necessary security measures.

Education and training accommodation are at the centre of the layout and reflect current standards in collage design which are echoed in the appearance of the building. Other permanent security measures, including lighting, fencing and CCTV were carefully designed to balance the need for security with the need to minimise visual intrusion in the neighbouring residential area.