Medical Architecture

As the year draws to a close, there is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements over the last twelve months and to thank those that have been instrumental in our journey. We were extremely proud this year to be named Architectural Practice of the Year at the IHEEM Healthcare Estates Awards. We consider this a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our outstanding team, as well as the successful partnerships we have built with our network of clients, consultants and collaborators. Our body of work has been enjoyably varied, with projects at a range of scales; across acute health, community health, and mental health; in the UK and overseas. Looking ahead, we have collaborated on pioneering initiatives which have the potential to transform the delivery of healthcare infrastructure, through a proactive approach to health, wellbeing, and the environment. We look forward to championing these further in the new year. Despite the challenges that health services face internationally, we are lucky to be working with magnificent people, who are dedicated to creating therapeutic environments for patient care. We are thankful for the relationships we have developed this year, both new and old, and we look forward to continuing these into 2025. Season’s Greetings from all at Medical Architecture!

It is good to see work progressing well on site of our Community Diagnostics Centre in Hereford for Wye Valley NHS Trust. Designed in collaboration with Architype and being constructed by Speller Metcalfe, the building adopts Passivhaus principles, focusing on high thermal efficiency, airtightness and mechanical heat recovery to reduce emissions and greatly improve energy performance. The building’s internal spaces have been designed to create a calming and reassuring environment for diagnostic imaging and testing. A welcoming double height reception and waiting space with natural finishes creates an internal landmark which aids orientation between floors. Externally, the black standing-seam metal cladding references the local industrial context, complemented by warm timber details to aid navigation and create a welcoming approach. Wye Valley NHS Trust | Architype | Medical Architecture | Speller Metcalfe | Arup | Innovaré Offsite Limited | The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd | WT (UK & Europe) | Method Consulting

As part of their ProCure23 framework showcase, Altro Limited, in partnership with Crown Paints, Saint-Gobain Ecophon AB, and Teal Furniture , invited us to create a mood board from products in their P23 standard components catalogue, responding to an imagined brief. The boards from all invited contributors are currently displayed in Altro’s London showroom. Focusing on the design of chemotherapy bays, our brief highlighted that chemotherapy can be one of the most challenging experiences of a patient’s life. We set out to create a scheme which addressed the clinical requirements, whilst creating a comfortable and calming environment. The bays evoke a rural, mountainous landscape, featuring alcove seating, an earthy and restful colour palette, textural interplay, and themed artwork. The selected materials combine to foster a sense of peaceful ease, whilst meeting the clinical requirements of infection control, cleanability, light reflectance values, and practicality. Mood board curated by Hun Pu, Sandra Bugaite, and Keeleigh P. (pictured with Rhian Davidson of Altro) | #ProCure23 | Gabriel Popa Photography

Work has completed on our skin surgery and dermatology clinic for private provider Good Skin Days, providing hospital-grade facilities in a bespoke, patient-focused environment. The new clinic is the result of the reconfiguration and fit-out of an existing commercial unit in Gateshead, working within the building’s constraints to create a high-quality clinical setting. Requiring a rapid turnaround, the design was established within 6 weeks, with the fit out then completed in 10 weeks. The 250m² facility makes efficient use of the available space providing four consultation rooms, four minor operations suites and three dedicated recovery rooms. The interior has been designed to create a welcoming environment which reflects the high standard of clinical care, putting patients at ease as they arrive. The professional aesthetic reflects the distinct brand identity of Good Skin Days, while materials and joinery are coordinated to create positive moments in the patient’s journey. Integrated recessed seating with oak detailing, offers a comfortable place for short waits away from the main waiting area. Read more in the ‘News’ section of our website. #healthcaredesign Good Skin Days | Medical Architecture | Ben Johnson Interiors | A.E. Robb & Associates | Summers-Inman | Bluekeep Building Control

We are delighted to have received two accolades at the Building Better Healthcare Awards for Sycamore at Northgate Park Hospital on behalf of the client and project team. The Best Healthcare Development (£25m - £75m) award recognises an exemplary healthcare project which shows cleverness and innovation in design, and which creates a positive, supportive and therapeutic environment. The Best External Environment award recognises an outstanding external space that enhances the overall experience. Sycamore is a medium secure mental health facility at the heart of the redevelopment of Northgate Park Hospital, providing inpatient accommodation for 72 male patients with a range of forensic mental health needs. Developed around the concept of a ‘village campus’, the building provides a wide variety of indoor and outdoor settings for relaxation and activity, ensuring a meaningful day for patients. Six patient wards are paired together and arranged around a large recreation courtyard, forming a secure boundary without the need for high fences. With rich landscaping and integrated security measures, this shared space creates a familiar and normalised setting for activity and wellbeing. Read more in the ‘News’ section of our website. #healthcaredesign NTW Solutions Limited | Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust | Sir Robert McAlpine | Colour | CAD 21 Ltd | Billinghurst George & Partners | Bluekeep Building Control | CENTURION FIRE SAFETY SOLUTIONS LIMITED | RICHMOND SAFETY SERVICES LIMITED | SRL Technical Services Ltd | PROJEECO LIMITED | Dan Savage - Artstop Studios | Tetra Tech | Richard Chivers

In the latest edition of Healthcare Property, Bob Wills draws upon a recent report by The King's Fund, to call for an increased focus on integrated community healthcare facilities which promote a proactive, preventative approach to health and wellbeing, relieving the strain on overstretched acute health services. He describes the success that the pioneering Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre has had in shifting the focus from ‘illnesses’ to ‘individuals’, with an anticipatory care model that improves the quality of life of people living with frailty, helping them to stay at home and out of hospital. A clinical study has shown that this has reduced demand for acute services and brought about savings to the wider healthcare system. He then describes similar plans developed through the Cavell Centre programme to set a bold new vision for the delivery of community health services, integrating clinical and social care models to address the broad influences of health and wellbeing. Through our work with collaborators Architype on one of six pilot projects, we believe that the core principles are well placed to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the health and care system. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/enWbtj7t | First published in Architect’s Datafile magazine.

Construction has begun on our energy-efficient Community Diagnostics Centre in Hereford for Wye Valley NHS Trust, which will provide a calming and reassuring environment for diagnostic imaging and testing. Designed in collaboration with Architype and being constructed by Speller Metcalfe, the building adopts Passivhaus principles, focusing on high thermal efficiency, airtightness and mechanical heat recovery to reduce emissions and greatly improve energy performance. This represents lower operational costs and long-term savings. The building’s internal spaces have been designed to meet the specific technical and safety requirements of a cutting-edge diagnostic facility, whilst creating a positive environment for wellbeing. A welcoming double height reception and waiting space with natural finishes and a large-scale artwork creates an internal landmark which aids orientation between floors. Externally, the black standing-seam metal cladding references the local industrial context, complemented by warm timber details to aid navigation and create a welcoming approach. Read more in the ‘News’ section of our website. #architecture #healthcaredesign Wye Valley NHS Trust | Architype | Medical Architecture | Speller Metcalfe | Arup | Innovare | The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd | WT (UK & Europe) | Method Consulting

We are extremely proud to have been named Architectural Practice of the Year at the IHEEM Healthcare Estates Awards! The award recognises a practice that has produced an outstanding body of work in the healthcare sector over the last twelve months. We consider this a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our outstanding team, as well as the successful partnerships we have built with our network of clients, consultants and architectural collaborators, over the past year and beyond. We would like to express our gratitude to this talented and committed group of people. The accolade follows a year in which we have been working collaboratively with a wide range of excellent NHS clients and project stakeholders to address the challenges presented by an ageing NHS estate. This includes the creation of strategic estate plans to establish prioritised programmes of investment that ensure maximum value and impact. We have also been working collaboratively with multiple partners to shape the future of integrated community healthcare facilities, promoting a proactive approach to health and wellbeing. Other achievements include the completion of the latest phase of a major refurbishment programme at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, and Sycamore, a pioneering forensic mental health facility in Northumberland. Find out more about our year: https://lnkd.in/ekF_Te5r Healthcare Estates 2024 - 8th and 9th October - Manchester Central | IHEEM (The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management)

Next week, we will be attending the IHEEM Healthcare Estates Conference to speak to healthcare providers about the challenges they face, and the ways we can assist through our informed approach to strategic planning and evidence-based design. You can catch our team presenting at various times throughout the event, please see the latest posts on our LinkedIn company page for full details. Alternatively, you can visit the contact page on our website to arrange a meeting.   Healthcare Estates 2024 - 8th and 9th October - Manchester Central | IHEEM (The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management) | #architecture #healthcaredesign #healthcareestates