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We have an international reputation for the design of healthcare buildings.
Whatever the size of the project, we balance the functional, economic, aesthetic and environmental aspects needed to create therapeutic and sustainable buildings.
This scheme is by far the largest project delivered through the Department of Health’s ‘ProCure21’ framework initiative. The scheme was constructed in five major phases and involved the provision of extensive new-build accommodation as well as significant alterations and substantial extensions to existing facilities.
The completed development provides the Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust with a dedicated treatment centre, a new critical care facility, out-patient department and wards. Central to the successful functioning of the development as well as its initial affordability is the careful position and design of accommodation shared between the two Trusts.
The scheme includes the innovative orthopaedic ‘Barn’ operating theatre which accommodates four operating tables within an open-plan area – an arrangement aimed at improving surgical teamwork and the sharing of expertise. The adopted design solution exploits the sloping site and makes extensive use of natural light, courtyard landscaping and colour to enhance the patient environment, aid wayfinding and to create a high quality working environment for staff.
A challenging yet inspiring project, Ysbyty Alltwen near Porthmadog, North Wales is a highly sustainable Community Hospital carefully integrated into its setting on the edge of Snowdonia National Park.
The hospital site, which was previously used as a rail interchange and ironstone mine, took almost three years to complete, having undergone extensive consultation processes with local interest groups during its design process, in order to respond to the varied ecology of the surrounding.
The vision was to deliver a therapeutic environment for patients and staff by exploiting the natural habitat on and around the existing site, maintain the relationship between the exterior and interior by maximising the views out of the building. The choice of external materials was key to the success of the building’s relationship with the landscape. Local stone, white render, and natural timber cladding are all appropriate to the local vernacular and the scale of the building.
The well designed hospital offers a 30 bed ward, Outpatients Department and a Day Hospital, as well as Minor Injuries and Radiology Unit and a large base for the hospital’s Community Mental Health Team.
Working closely with the Trust and the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, our design team championed a number of sustainable design principles. The building uses bio-fuel as a primary natural heating source and the scheme has been designed around an internal winter garden space which is integral to the proposed natural ventilation and heating strategies. Other initiatives include a green roof and rain water harvesting.
The project has been recognised for its sustainable qualities with two International Green Apple Awards.
The £350m University Hospital at Walsgrave, Coventry represents a major achievement in quality of design and construction as enhanced by the PFI process.
The project reached Financial Close in December 2002 and was completed to schedule, by Skanska, just three and a half years later. In the early stages of the design, an arts committee was established by the Trust to raise funds and produce significant works of art. The result, showcased in the photos, is a number of stunning pieces, most notably in the main entrance to the hospital.
Notable elements of the scheme include:
1200-bed Acute Hospital (pictures above) incorporating a Cancer Centre with nine LINAC radiotherapy bunkers, a Women's Hospital, an operating theatre suite of 24 theatres plus 4 day-surgery theatres, a Major Trauma Centre, a Cardiac Centre with four dedicated theatres and a Children's Hospital with dedicated Accident & Emergency.
Clinical Sciences Building finished in October 2003, accommodating research labs, a library and teaching facilities - including a 250-seat lecture theatre.
A 130-bed Mental Health Unit, including services for adults and older people, including a Day Hospital and Challenging Behaviour Unit.