The Centre, which opened in 2007, illustrates how a community health building can balance functionality and humanity with a strong civic presence. It received a 2007 AIA/UK Excellence in Design Award Commendation and a 2008 Civic Trust Award Commendation and is one of the first two NHS buildings to achieve a NEAT ‘Excellent’ environmental rating.

It brings together under one roof Community-based therapy services for, in particular, accident and stroke victims, a Mental Health unit for drugs and alcohol dependents and two GP practices.

Our objective was to change peoples’ perception about this type of building. We wanted to create the feel of a public building such as a library or town hall. However we had to retain the necessary intimacy for clinical consultations. In addition there were the environmental problems of traffic noise and fumes. Public and patient access is restricted to the ground and first floor, where the Centre is organised with a front-of-house ‘buffer’ (receptions, waiting areas, meeting rooms and gymnasium) and back-of-house (offices and laboratories); the clusters of clinical accommodation bridge between.

Built around two courtyards, and overlooking two side streets, the design creates a private aspect for clinical rooms. Internal circulation is organised around these courtyards – the upshot good daylight and easy wayfinding. Offices and staff facilities are located on the upper floors.
The building is planned on a 1.2m module – rooms, windows and cladding are set out to the same module. Rooms are generally 10% larger than NHS standards aiding day-to-day functionality and improving interchangeability of use making the building more flexible and adaptable.

The building employs a concrete frame that is exposed for thermal mass for natural ventilation. We sought to offset the ‘civic’ scale of the new building with the warmth and richness of timber. Our intention for the panels, which do not weather, bring humanity to the scheme reinforced by passive environmental controls, gardens and accessible outdoor space. Louvres on the east and west elevations provide solar shading and acoustic baffles

The project was published in Building Design (February 2007).