NATO Advanced Defense Technologies Training Center

Award Criteria

Architectural Excellence

This 15,070 sq ft, two-story NATO drone training facility is composed of 70 volumetric steel modules, seamlessly integrated into a purpose-built complex. The layout combines classrooms, drone operation labs, electronic warfare simulation rooms, and command/control spaces organized around efficient circulation cores. A signature feature is the glazed drone training room, where automated vertical opening systems provide access to a terrace that doubles as a drone launch platform. The exterior employs insulated steel panel façades with strategically placed glazing, balancing security with natural light. The modular geometry delivers clean lines and proportional massing that harmonize with the surrounding campus. Interiors are highly adaptable, offering open-plan teaching zones alongside high-specification technical rooms designed for rapid reconfiguration. Landscaping and clear pedestrian flows strengthen the facility’s integration with its environment.

Technical Innovation & Sustainability

Seventy precision-engineered steel modules were fabricated offsite to 90% completion, integrating HVAC, IT, and electrical systems before delivery. The facility meets Romania’s updated P118/1-2025 fire code and NATO safety protocols, with mineral-wool insulated panels, low-E glazing, and non-combustible finishes. Automated shutters and openings enhance automation, control, security, and adaptability across the building, allowing spaces to respond dynamically to operational requirements. Advanced IT infrastructure supports secure networks, cybersecurity, and high-tech e-learning with simulation systems for electronic warfare training. Designed for circularity, the flexible layout and full relocatability extend asset life, allowing reuse in future missions. Factory precision minimized waste, optimized material use, and embedded energy-efficient systems, ensuring sustainability while delivering mission-ready performance

Cost Effectiveness

A 7-month delivery from production start to occupancy was achieved through concurrent offsite fabrication and on-site works. Standardized modules reduced fabrication costs, while tailored interiors met high-spec NATO training requirements without overruns. The modular approach minimized on-site labor, shortened timelines, and reduced weather-related risks. Relocatability ensures long-term value by enabling redeployment for future missions, avoiding the cost and environmental impact of new construction. Factory precision and design repeatability delivered predictable quality, compliance, and performance with significant lifecycle savings.