Healthcare design requires specialist skills, where successful projects must combine a deep understanding of medical planning and operational needs, with specific user client aspirations and an appreciation of context and setting. To assist in the provision of an improved patient focussed service, clinical functionality requirements must be balanced with other considerations, such as patient dignity and the creation of attractive healing environments.
Evidence based research confirms that a well designed hospital will help patients recover more quickly, reduced hospital acquired infections and improves staff efficiencies.
Our introduction into the health sector originated in the design of medical laboratories and the completion of our competition winning proposal for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in the early 1990s. Since then the practice's experience has broadened dramatically to cover all aspects of medical design ranging from large scale masterplans and estate development strategies to the modest remodelling of existing buildings.
Over this period the practice has formed close working relationships with others in the sector that have knowledge and understanding of particular aspects of healthcare.
Additionally, specialist teams have been established within the office, comprising of experienced staff that are actively encouraged to expand their knowledge through research programmes, involvement with "Architects in Health", and other CPD opportunities.
The practice has also developed experience in the differing procurement routes being utilised in the sector. We have successfully completed projects under traditional, Design & Build and Performance Related Partnering (PRP) contracts.
Presently we are retained by the Western Trust to develop proposals for the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen and the Local Hospital in Omagh and similarly by the Northern Trust for the Antrim Area Hospital redevelopment, both of which are Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
This 'exemplar design' concept has recently been introduced into PPP projects by central government in an effort to improve design quality so badly lacking in many projects procured previously under this method.
We have also been retained by successful bidding teams on projects both in Northern Ireland and England, including the first medical PPP project in the province, a renal dialysis unit at the Belfast City Hospital.