1.13 Tectus (a firm of architects and space management consultants), our space consultant, has reviewed Modus' design. Tectus considers that Modus' solution will deliver the requirements MOD set out as an output specification and provide an appropriate level of provision. The contractual specification requires 3,300 workstations in Main Building, a 26 per cent increase in capacity.
1.14 MOD gave scope for the private sector partner to bring innovation by stating its requirements in an output specification. Tectus has confirmed that there were opportunities for further innovation in the remodelling of the basic building, but that these innovations would have been expensive to deliver. Tectus considers Modus' design solution to be optimal in balancing innovation and value for money. Modus' design will allow increased flexibility to enable MOD to cope more efficiently with changes to the interior layout. Security arrangements do, however, marginally limit MOD's ability to make optimal use of Main Building through maximising flexibility.
1.15 Some aspects of Modus' design differ from other headquarters buildings. For example, the level of support space provided in Main Building is high, 49.8 per cent, when compared with other Head Office buildings where it averages 27 per cent. MOD says this reflects its special needs - study rooms, IT rooms, the high use of meeting rooms (the current proposals show a ratio of 2.15 meeting spaces per person) plus other facilities such as a restaurant, fitness centre, press briefing suite and the business suite. The increased flexibility provided by the design will allow MOD to convert space efficiently to different uses throughout the contract period.