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St Mary’s is the major acute hospital for north-west London, as well as a major trauma centre. This eight-storey building that has just been granted planning permission, designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios [FCBStudios], will bring together outpatient services currently spread across the site from 40 different locations and include associated works regarding access, servicing and patient drop-off facilities.
The new building will replace the existing Salton House, Dumbell and Victoria and Albert buildings on the eastern side of the hospital estate. Using the best practice in design and technology the building will enhance patient and staff experience, as well as providing flexibility for future changes in service provisions. The New Outpatient’s Building is at a prominent location on Praed Street and will become a recognisable cornerstone marking the entrance to St Mary’s Campus from the east.
Designed to improve clinical outcomes and patient experience, the building will serve around half a million patients a year, allowing the hospital to meet the demands of a diverse and growing environment.
The design aims to activate the ground floor space with a central courtyard opening on the adjacent streets. Hospital related retail and café areas and strategically positioned circulation cores will also contribute to the integration of the building with the surrounding streets. A central atrium, carved out of the heart of the building, will offer daylight and orientation at all levels.
Sculpted glazed ceramic panels have been used on the external elevations to give the building a defined identity reflecting light in a narrow streetscape and creating an element of continuity with the surrounding context.
The design of the New Outpatients Building has been developed on the understanding that it will be the first part of a wider masterplan, which will ensure that St. Mary’s Hospital can continue to successfully operate as the major acute hospital for north west London.
Michele Wheeler, director of redevelopment, at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: “This new development is vital to help us meet the changing needs of our patients and will allow us to provide the very best care by taking advantage of the latest medical technologies and practices. It will also make visiting outpatients a more convenient and welcoming experience as we replace ageing buildings that are inefficient and costly to maintain.”
Sara Gohmann, Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios said: “This has been a key project for the practice in the healthcare sector. A carefully designed building that will substantially upgrade St Mary’s outpatients facilities and will create a new carefully crafted addition to the surrounding neighbourhood.”