Willmott Dixon has held a topping-out ceremony to mark the structural completion of a new £12m ($14.6m) band facility at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in England.

The project is being developed under the Defence Estate Optimisation Army Programme.

Willmott Dixon director Adam Worrall said: “I am delighted to be part of such a unique project that will serve as a sanctuary for musical talent within the army. It will provide a new and modernised building that is high-quality and fit for purpose. I am looking forward to seeing its further progression over the coming months.”

This purpose-built facility will accommodate all 54 band members and can be used for small dinner nights and military sporting events.

It will provide space for rehearsals, performances and musical collaboration facilities for British Army Band Sandhurst musicians.

The existing and new building will comprise a music library, an instrument store, a crew room and rehearsal rooms.

It will feature two blocks equipped with solar panels and heat-source pumps, making the facility eco-friendly.

Defence Estate Optimisation Programme senior programme manager Hazel Ide 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.

“The teams, DIO, Army, the site personnel, Willmott Dixon, HLM and Pick Everard have worked together to resolve issues, understand risks and come up with innovative solutions to some challenging problems to keep the project on track.”

Construction works are expected to be finished by the end of 2024.