WORK on a three-storey, specialist training facility for those in the healthcare sector has now been completed at Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Clifton Campus. The renovation of existing NTU buildings and the completion of a new building will serve as a base for the Institute of Health & Allied Professions,
It has recently been announced that construction is underway on a purpose-built veterinary hospital for a company that provides care across 19 countries. The development forms part of St Modwen’s Longbridge regeneration project. “Strategically, West Longbridge represents a location that will support the growth of our organisation for years to
CONSTRUCTION has completed at leading dementia care specialists Church Farm Care’s Rusticus home in Cotgrave – making its vision of expanding its revolutionary model of dementia care to include this latest location a reality. From alterations to the internal layout of the existing building as well as the construction of brand-new elements of the site, the development will support family members living at the home to enjoy greater independence and quality of life. Patrick Atkinson, director of Church
BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design and engineering company, have completed their part in the successful design and construction of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s (NHSGGC) new Clydebank Health and Care Centre. The new facility, situated in the health quarter of Queens Quay and in the shadow of the area’s famous
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, has been selected by the NHS for its six-year National Framework Agreement for the provision of Smart Building Solutions using the Internet of Things (IoT). The NHS framework will advance plans to support the delivery of smart hospitals, enabling
Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading offsite specialists, has been awarded a £21m contract to construct a new outpatient services building at King’s College Hospital in London. The 3,450sqm, four-storey scheme is Premier’s largest single healthcare project in its 65-year history. Constructed offsite, this large-scale building will allow the
St. Modwen, the UK’s leading developer of new communities and high-quality homes, has received planning permission from Birmingham City Council to build a new state of the art veterinary hospital which will create up to 150 skilled new jobs at West Longbridge Business Park. . It represents a major milestone
Works at a new healthcare facility, Greenwood Health Centre in Burntwood, Staffordshire, have now been completed. The £3.4 million medical facility, which is located on Lichfield Road, has been constructed by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson to bring first class healthcare facilities to the community and opened earlier this month.
PROPERTY, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle has been appointed by Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) to provide project management, cost management and CDM advice services on a once-in-a-generation transformation of the former Machynlleth Union Workhouse – currently operating as Bro Ddyfi Community Hospital. Based in the heart of Machynlleth, a popular market town
NHS England NHS Improvement found that the impact of the pandemic necessitated a new approach to the workplace, with options to support individual preferences. Southernsbroadstock worked closely alongside the NHS England NHS Improvement team to deliver Digital Workspaces for its Quarry House location. Adaptable & versatile interiorsThe concept of Digital
WORK on a three-storey, specialist training facility for those in the healthcare sector has now been completed at Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Clifton Campus. The renovation of existing NTU buildings and the completion of a new building will serve as a base for the Institute of Health & Allied Professions, which offers a range of specialist courses such as adult and mental health nursing and paramedic science. The whole facility is focused on equipping the healthcare providers of the future with the knowledge and hands-on skills required for modern healthcare. Leading independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy, Pick Everard provided architecture, interior design and principal design services from concept to completion, working with main contractor Henry Brothers during the construction period. Devika Parmar, director of architecture at Pick Everard, said: “We are delighted to have provided services for such an important scheme for the university and its healthcare students. We won this project via a competition under the NTU consultancy framework, where we put forward our concept proposals to create a gateway building to the campus that would be visually striking, functional and inspirational for anyone hoping for a career within health services. We’re thrilled that the completed building aligns very closely with our original concept sketch. “Blending our healthcare and HE knowledge, we designed a building that caters to nursing, paramedical, and other healthcare professionals. It accommodates a variety of clinical simulation spaces that support teaching, assessments, and learning opportunities. “Underpinning our design approach was a modular grid and a simplicity in design to create flexibility and standardisation in space planning and construction delivery. Working closely with university stakeholders, we meticulously planned the building to meet user requirements and allow for new educational technologies to support the evolving learning demands.” With flexibility of use in mind, multi-use spaces have the potential to provide students with fully immersive experiences. The new building also provides a welcoming gateway building to the campus with the external façade treatment and quality materials providing aesthetic interest. One floor of the new development is dedicated to realistic simulated healthcare environments for the training of healthcare students. This includes hospital wards, consultations and counselling rooms and a mock flat for home and emergency care scenarios. Meanwhile, a further two floors provide office and flexible teaching space to accommodate creative learning approaches. David Shaw, national design director at Pick Everard, said: “The architecture of the new development has been designed for maximum visual impact on arrival to the campus. We wanted to ensure this new addition to an evolving campus would be complimentary but also distinctive both externally and internally. “The whole consultant team worked closely to deliver this project to ensure the architecture, interior design and engineering has been holistically considered. We were intent on combining the existing building into the project, with the atrium space connecting the refurbished and new accommodations to bring people together in a central collaboration space. “With such unique requirements for its end use, this development provided room for a number of innovations to be adopted. This included the inclusion of virtual reality training spaces that completely immerse students into situational experiences, which is an incredibly valuable experience for their training. “The pandemic has reaffirmed the need for training facilities like this to make sure that the healthcare professionals now and tomorrow have the best quality teaching experience possible. We very much look forward to seeing the building fully occupied by students and professionals and seeing them make the most of their new teaching spaces.” Dr Anne Felton, head of the Institute of Health & Allied Professions at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, said: “We’re incredibly excited that our new teaching centre is now open. The courses we’re providing will directly increase the supply of professional qualified staff into the NHS and related services, as well as providing a dedicated facility to allow greater opportunities for Continuing Professional Development for existing health practitioners within the local area. “The virtual reality training facilities that will provide students with fully immersive situational experiences are a demonstration of NTU’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of the learning experience, while the audio-visual recording equipment installed within the simulation suites will enable feedback and reflection on students’ performances, creating a truly modern learning experience.” Ian Taylor, managing director at Henry Brothers Midlands, the contractor for the development, said: “It’s great to see this project reach completion and I look forward to seeing it full of students. Despite being a challenging project delivered during difficult times, I’m really pleased with how the whole team came together to deliver a great looking building for the university’s students and staff.” For more information about Pick Everard, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
It has recently been announced that construction is underway on a purpose-built veterinary hospital for a company that provides care across 19 countries. The development forms part of St Modwen’s Longbridge regeneration project. “Strategically, West Longbridge represents a location that will support the growth of our organisation for years to come, while being conveniently situated for pet owners whose pets require treatment at the state-of-the-art facilities,” said John Turkington, head of referral business development at IVC Evidensia. The two-storey veterinary hospital will provide a facility for IVC Evidensia and will be located adjacent to open parkland which is complimented by foot and cycle paths providing access to Longbridge town centre. Once complete, the hospital will create more than 100 jobs and operations will feature research, treatment, diagnostic, laboratory and administrative space. “IVC Evidensia will be a valuable addition to West Longbridge Business Park and will benefit the entire region. Longbridge is now home to a number of specialist organisations and we are looking forward to welcoming more in the future,” added Elliot Sellars, development director at St Modwen. “With each new business addition there is further value being added to the local community, the economy and a prosperous future for this historical site. It is a privilege for the entire St Modwen team to be involved from the start of this regeneration project and seeing elements such as this come to fruition.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
CONSTRUCTION has completed at leading dementia care specialists Church Farm Care’s Rusticus home in Cotgrave – making its vision of expanding its revolutionary model of dementia care to include this latest location a reality. From alterations to the internal layout of the existing building as well as the construction of brand-new elements of the site, the development will support family members living at the home to enjoy greater independence and quality of life. Patrick Atkinson, director of Church Farm Care, said: “Seeing the site develop, from initial concepts through to delivery, has been incredibly exciting and we’re thrilled to finally be able to open the doors, not just to our family members but also to the local community. “There’s no arguing that the past few years have been challenging for all of our staff and family members due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. So being able to celebrate Rusticus’ completion is extremely rewarding and a fantastic way to start the new year.” The completed phase has seen the addition of Hickling Lodge, a state of the art 30 -bedroom standalone building with new lounges and lifestyle kitchens that are furnished and equipped to the highest standard. Patrick added: “The location of Rusticus also makes a huge difference to our family members, as the surrounding woodlands help to create a sense of calm and tranquility. Everyone is looking forward to enjoying the outdoors and the walk-through aviary when spring arrives. Meanwhile, those who don’t want to venture too far will be able to benefit from bedrooms and lounges that all have views and access to outdoor patios and balconies to take in the beautiful woodland scenery. “Our plans for this extension weren’t just about creating more comfortable and accessible environments for our family members but were also about helping to ensure they remain an integral part of the community through features that bring the public into the home. After two years in and out of lockdowns this has never been more important, and we can’t wait to be able to welcome people in the months to come.” The development also includes a brand-new social club, Socius, which includes a cafe, hairdressers, and cinema for both residents and the community to access and enjoy. Church Farm Care has four homes in Nottingham – three of which offer specialist dementia nursing within innovative and supportive environments. For more information about Church Farm Care, please visit www.churchfarmcare.co.uk.
BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design and engineering company, have completed their part in the successful design and construction of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s (NHSGGC) new Clydebank Health and Care Centre. The new facility, situated in the health quarter of Queens Quay and in the shadow of the area’s famous Titan crane, consolidates a number of local GP and social care practices, as well as podiatry and physiotherapy, within a sustainable and fully accessible three-storey building. Appointed by hub West Scotland, BakerHicks provided the civil and structural design for the new £19 million building, which was constructed by BAM Construction. The design incorporates a steel frame, long-span beams and the use of curtain walling and extensive glazing to create a light and open feel in the atrium and beyond. It also features an impressive cantilever above the main entrance. Working closely with architects, Anderson Bell Christie, and the landscape architects, Harrison Stevens, BakerHicks’ knowledge, and expertise were also used to help highlight the industrial past of the site, with the use of corten steel elements throughout. Queen’s Quay Clydebank is one of Scotland’s key waterfront regeneration projects. The once thriving industrial site was famous for building the QE2 and Queen Mary. The plan now is to transform the 24-hectare site into a vibrant, mixed-use community. With the new facility being located on a brownfield site, it posed a number of civil engineering challenges, including contaminated soil, buried tracks and foundations. To overcome this, BakerHicks’ civil engineers devised a thorough land remediation strategy. Thick layers of made ground due to the site’s industrial past also required ground improvement measures with the use of Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) to accommodate foundation loads. The tidally influenced river Clyde, plus surface water flooding from surrounding areas, meant the site levels had to be carefully designed to mitigate the risk of flooding. BakerHicks set the building level so as to prevent flooding from the river and designed an overland flow path through the site to allow the surface water to dissipate. Laura James, Head of Scotland at BakerHicks, says the new facility in Clydebank is another example of the company’s expertise in delivering health and care design: “We have now been involved in the design of five separate facilities in the Greater Glasgow area that will genuinely deliver a step change in the provision of health and care in Scotland. Providing a central base for local health services, it will improve primary care services, giving the local community improved access to health services in the most up-to-date, high quality facilities. “Our teams worked closely with the architects and wider design team to ensure the building honours the culture and past of the area, as well as brining the modern values of the town to the new development.” Tom Steele, NHSGGC’s Director of Estates and Facilities said: “I am personally very proud of this development, which stands in this most historic location. “This stunning development is the sixth Health and Care Centre NHSGGC has built in recent years, delivering state-of-the-art facilities for their local communities. Very soon it will be home to six GP practices and community health and care services including Speech and Language Therapy, Mental Health Services, Physiotherapy, Antenatal Clinics, Community Paediatric Clinics, Podiatry and Sexual Health. “I have every confidence that the people of Clydebank will be equally pleased with the result when it opens in a few weeks.” Iain Marley, CEO of hub West Scotland, commented: “The completion of this landmark facility is a hugely significant milestone in the development of the Queen’s Quay Masterplan, and we are immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to achieve this brilliant outcome. “The design of the new facility benefits from the team’s experience gained from the delivery of multiple tremendously successful health and care centres for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.” BakerHicks also provided civil and structural engineering services on Eastwood, Gorbals, Greenock and Woodside Health and Care Centres, all of which follow the same design principles as Clydebank.
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, has been selected by the NHS for its six-year National Framework Agreement for the provision of Smart Building Solutions using the Internet of Things (IoT). The NHS framework will advance plans to support the delivery of smart hospitals, enabling local authorities and wider public bodies to more readily procure smart building technologies, providing time and money saving efficiencies. The solutions represent a serious step change in the ambition to set a new standard in the UK’s ageing healthcare infrastructure through technical innovation. A single supplier framework, public bodies now have the opportunity to tap into innovative buildings solutions that enable automated monitoring and control of energy use, building occupancy, and asset visibility. The NHS framework is at the forefront of bringing in new digital capabilities across hospitals in a bid to deliver superior experiences for users while decreasing energy use and emissions, in line with the UK’s ambitious net-zero objectives. Led by The Countess of Chester Commercial Hospital Procurement Services, the NHS framework will drive the transformation of smart hospitals, creating world class facilities fit for the future and improving efficiency through data-enabled solutions that respond to the needs of patients, staff, and visitors. Smart hospitals deliver a myriad of benefits from ensuring clean air quality for doctors and patients, to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and incorporating smart systems that reduce friction and improve communications. Such technologies play a vital role in reducing costs while enhancing patient and staff satisfaction, patient care, and quality. “We are excited to have been selected by the NHS. Our technology makes it possible to support sustainability goals at scale and has the enormous potential to shape the smart hospitals and healthcare facilities of the future. We look forward to the innovations we can bring to all occupants at every level across our healthcare sector,” said Andy Ellis, Vice President and General Manager, Johnson Controls UK&I. Innovating hospitals with cutting edge solutions provides real world advantages. In healthcare settings, intelligent HVAC systems mean that healthcare practitioners breathe better quality air, managed automatically, leading to better decision making, crucial for improved patient outcomes. Smart IoT technologies can also enhance a raft of patient and clinician experiences, from reducing queues to controlling lighting and heating, automatic check-in to tracking of equipment, cleaning, and voice control.
Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading offsite specialists, has been awarded a £21m contract to construct a new outpatient services building at King’s College Hospital in London. The 3,450sqm, four-storey scheme is Premier’s largest single healthcare project in its 65-year history. Constructed offsite, this large-scale building will allow the Trust to free up space within the main hospital to help reduce waiting times and improve the patient experience for urgent care services. As main contractor, Premier will be leading the project team which includes delivery partner Claritas, P+HS Architects, and M&E specialists, TClarke. Awarded under the Crown Commercial Service modular buildings framework, the project follows the team’s successful delivery of a £10m contract for the offsite construction of a 62-bed Priority Assessment Unit at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey. The new outpatient services building at King’s College Hospital will provide 48 purpose-designed consultation rooms and eight procedure rooms for a range of services, including dermatology, rheumatology, respiratory, neurosciences, pain management, and urology as well as other aspects of surgery and therapies. Dan Allison, Divisional Director at Premier Modular, said, “The use of an offsite solution for this project will ensure faster delivery and earlier occupation, to the benefit of patient care.” “Offsite construction is safer, quieter and cleaner than in-situ construction, which will radically reduce disruption during the build phase to staff and patients, and the surrounding residential community. This type of building solution is also enormously beneficial on restricted hospital sites such as this, reducing the amount of plant, materials, and vehicle movements to site by undertaking as much work in the factory as we can. The new building has access roads to three sides and is immediately adjacent to the Normanby Building.” “We are working to a short programme to bring these state-of-the art facilities into use as early as possible this year, to the benefit of patients and to assist with the rising demand for hospital services.” Stephen Hatcher, Associate at P+HS Architects, said, “The building is designed to minimise impact on the environment over its life and is targeting a BREEAM excellent rating. It will have areas of green roof to encourage biodiversity, a highly insulated building fabric to reduce heat loss and running costs, energy-efficient ventilation and electric air source heat pump system for heating, and solar panels for electricity generation.” The façade design will be contemporary and was informed by the existing buildings on the hospital campus.A double-height feature entrance will provide visibility externally and allow high levels of natural light for the reception and waiting area. Developed in collaboration with clinicians and patient representatives, the interior design will be crisp and modern, whilst assisting patients with sensory needs. To maintain patient flows, the new facility will be linked to the Normanby Building at ground floor level. Premier Modular is providing a full turnkey construction package for this project including engagement with the clinical team at the design stages, development of a highly sustainable M&E strategy, demolition of an existing building on the site, groundworks, offsite manufacture, module installation, and fitting out. For further information, visit www.premiermodular.co.uk, call 0800 316 0888 or email info@premiermodular.co.uk.
St. Modwen, the UK’s leading developer of new communities and high-quality homes, has received planning permission from Birmingham City Council to build a new state of the art veterinary hospital which will create up to 150 skilled new jobs at West Longbridge Business Park. . It represents a major milestone in the development of the park as it becomes a leading centre for science and technology, medicine, precision engineering and R&D. Work on the two-storey hospital and its 3-acre site at the southern gateway of West Longbridge will start early next year with a planned opening in 2023. When complete, the new facility will deliver best-in-class care and treatment and will be a centre of veterinary excellence for the region. This first element of West Longbridge Business Park will lead the way for the rest of the development. West Longbridge Business Park will create up to 5,000 new jobs, with work on access roads and landscaping already underway following £20m of infrastructure investment in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). The new hospital will feature research, treatment, diagnostic, laboratory and administrative space and will have the most advanced medical equipment including CT and MRI scanners. The building will be located next to spacious parkland and will benefit from access to new meadow spaces and native hedgerows, with foot and cycle paths providing direct access to and from Longbridge Town Centre and its extensive retail and leisure facilities. Planning permission for the building was sought by St. Modwen on behalf of IVC Evidensia, Europe’s leading veterinary care provider with 21,000 staff based across 12 countries, including the UK. West Longbridge Business Park offers unbeatable local, regional and national connectivity and is a sustainable addition to the wider £1bn Longbridge masterplan. In addition to the business park, the investment will see an attractive new residential neighbourhood of 350 homes also created. Elliot Sellars, Development Director at St. Modwen, said: “The new hospital for IVC Evidensia will be a real centrepiece for Longbridge, providing new jobs and opportunities as well as cutting edge new treatment and facilities. It is the first key element of West Longbridge and sets a high bar for what we will be delivering at West Longbridge. “As we continue discussions with other potential occupiers, we are building on the progress and ongoing investment we have already delivered across Longbridge. We are committed to creating a high-quality business park integrated into the region’s business eco-system here at West Longbridge and look forward to making further announcements about the progress of the site in the near future.” John Turkington, Head of Referral Business Development at IVC Evidensia adds: “Our new hospital is now one step closer and once open will provide industry leading veterinary facilities for communities in Birmingham and throughout the West Midlands. It will offer a 24/7 service and utilise the latest technology to deliver the best diagnoses and treatments available.” “Our new state-of-the-art hospital in Longbridge will be staffed with experienced, high-calibre teams and has been designed to enable the best outcomes through working collaboratively in a sustainable and rewarding working environment that delivers the excellence in client and patient care which we have become known for.”
Works at a new healthcare facility, Greenwood Health Centre in Burntwood, Staffordshire, have now been completed. The £3.4 million medical facility, which is located on Lichfield Road, has been constructed by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson to bring first class healthcare facilities to the community and opened earlier this month. The healthcare facility has been built on a Staffordshire County Council site that had been vacant since 2008, having previously been occupied by a residential care home. The single-storey health centre replaces the current provision on Hudson Drive approximately 300 metres away, with medical services still being provided by the area’s local GP practice, Darwin Medical Practice, from within the new facility. “Greenwood House Health Centre is going to be a high-quality healthcare centre for the people of Burntwood: providing a modern, spacious and comfortable facility, which still includes their local GP practice, as well as new accessible treatment rooms, equipment and facilities,” said Chris Flint, managing director of G F Tomlinson. “We’re very pleased to have completed this project working with the NHS and our local authority partners – our fifth project on the Staffordshire County Council Framework – delivering another important public service building in the area which will provide upgraded healthcare facilities to the local community.” Consisting of 12 consulting rooms, five treatment rooms, a healthcare and phlebotomy room, and a health education space with an adjoining pharmacy unit, the Greenwood Medical Centre will provide much-needed upgraded and accessible healthcare facilities for the area. Landscaping has also been carried out to the facility’s surroundings, with 61 onsite parking spaces created. G F Tomlinson was selected from the Staffordshire County Council Framework to provide the construction works for the site which began in November last year, this being the contractor’s fifth project secured through the framework. “For many years the County Council has held on to this site so it can be used to improve health provision in Burntwood and I am delighted to see the medical centre open. Part of the authority’s approach to improving the community’s health and wellbeing, particularly among older residents, is to have more people treated closer to home wherever possible and this first-class building allows us to do that,” added Julia Jessel, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Health and Care. The scheme has been funded by NHS England’s Estates and Technology Transformation Fund, which aims to improve healthcare services for patients across the country with modernised facilities and technology. “I am delighted that years of collaborative working and planning between skilled and dedicated professionals from local health authorities, the county council and The Darwin Medical Practice are now coming to fruition,” commented Dr Gerbo Huisman, GP partner at Darwin Medical Practice. “Our patients, as well as the wider community, are now getting what they have asked for so long; a modern, spacious and comfortable health centre from which we, their GP practice, will be delivering high quality, responsive and patient centred primary care services.” Staffordshire County Council led this project, with project management from ENTRUST and G F Tomlinson acting as main contractor.
PROPERTY, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle has been appointed by Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) to provide project management, cost management and CDM advice services on a once-in-a-generation transformation of the former Machynlleth Union Workhouse – currently operating as Bro Ddyfi Community Hospital. Based in the heart of Machynlleth, a popular market town at the head of the Dyfi estuary in mid-Wales, the redevelopment of the Bro Ddyfi Community Hospital will ensure residents have access to leading healthcare facilities in the heart of their community. In addition to improving primary care facilities, the project will provide space for local authority and third sector teams to work collaboratively, encouraging efficiency and quality of care. The £15 million project will see contractor Willmott Dixon deliver an integrated health and wellbeing centre in collaboration with Perfect Circle via SCAPE Consultancy, a direct award framework that drives collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings. Victoria Brambini, managing director of Perfect Circle, said: “We are delighted to be overseeing the regeneration of the Bro Ddyfi Community Hospital, with all of its wonderful heritage. Originally built in 1860, it has since served several purposes, including a WWII Red Cross auxiliary hospital and the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Much of our work will involve breathing new life into the historic building, restoring it as an important asset to the local community.” Appointed due to its extensive healthcare credentials, Perfect Circle will be working in partnership with Willmott Dixon, the local community and stakeholders to ensure engagement throughout. By modernising the hospital and centralising the GP practice, local people will benefit from a comprehensive, cross-service approach to their health and wellbeing needs. Mike Petersen, principal regional lead for Wales at Perfect Circle, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to not only create a modern facility but overhaul the way in which the community accesses healthcare. Perfect Circle is delighted to be leading the project and rejuvenating a building of such significance both in the past and for the future.” Construction commenced in May 2021, with contractor Willmott Dixon taking the lead on the ground via the SCAPE Construction framework. Works are expected to complete by the end of 2022. Ian Jones, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are proud to be working alongside Perfect Circle via the SCAPE framework to deliver this integrated health and wellbeing facility for the Powys Teaching Health Board. The project builds upon our proud history of delivering first-class healthcare projects in Wales and will create vital facilities for the people of Machynlleth and the surrounding areas.” The SCAPE Consultancy framework offers direct access to the most extensive property, construction and infrastructure consultancy services available to the public sector. The fully OJEU-compliant procurement route brings together the strongest collaborative team with value for money, while contributing substantially to local social value. Mark Robinson, group chief executive of SCAPE, said: “Modern, best-in-class healthcare facilities are the foundation to ensuring thriving, healthy communities in Wales. SCAPE is proud to help accelerate this important project, which will see a much-needed update to Bro Ddyfi Community Hospital that also respects the significant heritage of Machynlleth Union Workhouse. “Perfect Circle, Willmott Dixon and Powys Teaching Health Board are regenerating a historically significant building into a future-proofed facility that will deliver a lasting benefit to residents for years to come.” For more information on Perfect Circle, please visit www.perfectcircle.co.uk.
NHS England NHS Improvement found that the impact of the pandemic necessitated a new approach to the workplace, with options to support individual preferences. Southernsbroadstock worked closely alongside the NHS England NHS Improvement team to deliver Digital Workspaces for its Quarry House location. Adaptable & versatile interiorsThe concept of Digital Workspaces was created by NHS England NHS Improvement and Innovation to champion its four Cs: Concentration, Contemplation, Connection and Collaboration.Using these principles, Southernsbroadstock worked with the client to design interiors that offered a mix of these spaces. The aim was to provide staff with a range of environments to reflect the type of task being undertaken, or their preferred ways of working. Considered designThe challenge was to ensure that the spaces met the brief set by NHS England NHS Improvement whilst also making sure that it would benefit staff overall. Southernsbroadstock worked closely with NHS England NHS improvement, ensuring the client was completely informed at every stage of the process. This approach gave valuable insight into the needs of the Quarry House team and allowed Southernsbroadstock to amend and refine the design accordingly. Furnishings were chosen in muted blue tones to match NHS branding, with a variety of areas to facilitate quiet work, close communication or larger discussions. This included our Arc Booth, with added canopy, table and power outlet to create a space for concentration. Promoting accessibility There was also a big emphasis on accessibility so a variety of height adjustable desking and meeting tables were added into the design, as well as wheelchair accessible pods which provide step-free areas for meetings and teamwork.Height adjustable desking will help NHS England to increase staff wellbeing by allowing them to change to a more comfortable position. As an added benefit, it also helps to futureproof the work environment by ensuring desking can be adjusted to suit any person. So, no matter what their stature, new staff will always be supported by furniture that can adapt. The result Southernsbroadstock’s ability to mobilise quickly and at short notice made it stand out as a solutions provider. Though the conditions created by the pandemic proved to be challenging, the team successfully delivered the project to the requirements set out by the client. The staff at Quarry House will now be able to make use of a modern and uplifting work environment that offers a space to suit everyone.
