Structural works have been completed on a £12million project which will see a new band facility open for army musicians.

The new band facility at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) is being delivered under the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme.

A topping out ceremony took place at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Wednesday, September 13, marking the formal completion of building works.

Military officials and project partners from the Army delivery team and Defence Infrastructure Organisation attended the ceremony to celebrate the project’s progress.  

The purpose-built facility has been designed to house and support the talented musicians who serve in British Army Band Sandhurst, offering a modern and acoustically optimised environment for rehearsals, performances and musical collaboration.  

The new facility can accommodate all 54 members of British Army Band Sandhurst, which performs at passing out parades and Sovereign’s parades, as well as supporting military sporting events and dinner nights with smaller ensembles.

The new and refurbished buildings feature an instrument store, music library, offices, rehearsal rooms, storage, changing and toilet facilities, and a crew room. 

Major General Richard Clements CBE, Director of Army Basing and Infrastructure said: “I am delighted to see the excellent progress on these modern, bespoke facilities for British Army Band Sandhurst and I congratulate the project team on reaching this significant construction milestone.

"We trust this building will become a flagship facility to inspire future generations of Army musicians, who play such an important role in enhancing the reputation of UK Defence both at home and on the global stage.” 

Hazel Ide, Senior Programme Manager for the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme said:  “This project has brought old and new together brilliantly and is going to be a fabulous facility which reflects the history of this site alongside a state-of-the-art new and very modern facility."

Construction will be completed in 2024.