Former RAF Alconbury: Combined Physiological Support Division (PSD) and 17th RW Squadron Building (Building Number 199)

This building, numbered 199, served as a Combined Physiological Support Division (PSD) and 17th Reconnaissance Wing Squadron operations building, constructed in 1989 for the United States Air Force. The structural engineers were Mott, Hay and Anderson, with Briffa Phillips responsible for the chemical and biological cell design. Peter Birse Limited carried out the construction.

The building is rectangular, aligned north-east to south-west, and is primarily constructed of reinforced concrete. The design is of a two-storey, monolithic concrete box with a flat roof, topped by a blast valve penthouse, also flat-roofed. A lower ground floor is underground, and part of the ground floor is concealed behind a grass-covered earthen berm reinforced with steel mesh. Recessed parallel bands feature on the concrete walling above the berm. A projecting entrance/exit block, used by pilots and ground crew, is centrally positioned on the south-east side, flanked by two emergency exit stairwells with mono-pitched roofs and personnel hatches; an identical emergency exit is on the north-east side. The penthouse consists of two parallel plenum chambers, each holding two rows of blast valves. These valves formed part of the building’s air-handling and ventilation system, normally allowing free airflow, but designed to automatically close and prevent damage from over or under-pressure resulting from a nuclear detonation.

Despite flooding, the lower ground floor, along with the ground floor, retains its original layout of windowless rooms. The main entrance/exit and emergency exits still have their original air-lock blast doors, though some are damaged. Many internal spaces show some damage, but most rooms retain Steeltone acoustic wall and ceiling linings. The pilots lounge retains a back projector with faux wood panelling, while the job control/radio/pilot interrogation room has its original job control board and personnel desk.

The listing excludes the link corridor connecting this building to the Physiological Support Division (PSD) Building (Building Number 200) and the 17th Reconnaissance Wing Squadron Operations Building (Building Number 201).