Work starts on sustainable Community Diagnostics Centre
Construction has commenced 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 £18 million centre is part of a national initiative to boost NHS diagnostic capacity by providing Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in local communities across the country.
Our design partnership with Architype combines expertise in healthcare design with knowledge and experience in designing to Passivhaus standards. Passivhaus design standards combine principles such as high thermal efficiency, airtightness and mechanical heat recovery to reduce carbon emissions and greatly improve a building’s energy performance. This has the benefit of significantly reducing the operational costs of the building, providing long term savings to the NHS estate.
A double height atrium with natural finishes and a large-scale artwork provides a welcoming and orienting reception and waiting space.
Effective spaces for staff and patients
In consultation with a wide range of NHS stakeholders, the building’s internal spaces have been designed to meet the specific technical, and safety requirements of a cutting-edge diagnostic facility. Spaces for MRI, CT and X-ray imaging, which require protective shielding and heavy, vibration sensitive items of equipment, are located on the ground floor. This ensures an efficient structural engineering solution can be adopted, and it enables easy access for patients from the public waiting and reception area. Spaces for patients to consult with clinicians are provided on the first floor alongside the staff welfare facilities where generous views and natural daylight create a positive environment for wellbeing.
Spaces on the first floor enjoy generous views and natural daylight creating a positive environment for wellbeing.
Creating a patient journey that promotes wellbeing
A double height atrium directs visitors towards the entrance with its bright, welcoming reception and waiting space. The atrium is defined by natural finishes and a large-scale artwork creating an internal landmark which aids orientation on the ground and first floors. This supports the use of simple and intuitive signage and wayfinding, removing unnecessary visual clutter, and enabling the interior to adopt a more familiar and less institutional character.
The building’s interior has been designed with a calming palette of materials and finishes to support positive patient experiences. Attention has also been paid to details that create a high-quality workplace, to aid the recruitment and retention of NHS staff.
There’s no doubt that the new centre will lead to improved patient experience and outcomes and will contribute to shorter waits for people from Herefordshire and beyond.
The building features standing-seam cladding that reflects the local industrial context. This is complemented by warm timber details to enhance navigation and create a softer appearance on approach.
A distinctive identity with lasting purpose
Externally, a black standing-seam metal cladding has been selected as the primary material for the elevations. This provides a contemporary interpretation of the local industrial context, whilst creating a distinct identity which aids navigation to the site. As visitors approach the diagnostic centre, softer timber details become apparent within the outside canopy, and the window/door reveals. Vertical timber cladding elements beneath the canopy frame the main entrance providing a clear destination. All materials have been selected for their longevity and their ability to age well as part of a holistic sustainability strategy.
It is very exciting to be constructing another public building and further improving services in our local city, following a 3-year period innovation in the healthcare sector working alongside Medical Architecture.
This building reflects the collaborative approach of the client, contractor and the design team members, who have all strived towards the shared ambition of a more sustainable development approach, which has the potential to reduce revenue costs, as well as carbon, across the whole NHS estate.