Celebrating thirty years of Maggie’s The vision that changed cancer care JUNE 2026 | £8 healthcaredm.co.uk healthcare design & management
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healthcaredm.co.uk 3 Publishers Stable Publishing Limited SBC House, Restmor Way Wallington, Surrey SM6 7AH, England. t. 020 8288 1080 f. 020 8288 1099 e. sales@healthcaredm.co.uk healthcaredm.co.uk Editor Helen Adkins Production Nicola Cann Design Gemma England Media Sales Manager Terry Stafford Head of Sales Julian Walter Managing Director Toby Filby Maggie’s centres around the UK The publishers do not necessarily agree with views expressed by contributors and cannot accept responsibility for claims made by manufacturers and authors, nor do they accept any responsibility for any errors in the subject matter of this publication. healthcare design & management Healthcare buildings are often assessed in terms of clinical capacity, from the number of patients they can treat to the efficiency of their layouts and the resilience of their services. Those measures are essential, but they do not capture the full experience of care, particularly for patients and families facing serious illness over weeks, months or years. This issue of hdm looks at two projects that sit outside the clinical environment, but are closely tied to it. Both show how buildings alongside hospitals can provide a different, but complementary, form of support, offering places to pause, recover, process and talk. In the UK, Maggie’s has spent three decades developing this idea. The charity’s cancer support centres are deliberately non-clinical, offering free support in buildings which feel domestic, welcoming and calm. Uniquely designed by some of the most celebrated architects in the world, these buildings are central to the charity’s purpose of replacing the sense of institutional process with spaces that offer warmth, natural light, gardens and informal kitchens, as well as adaptable rooms and human contact. On page 11, Maggie’s chief executive Dame Laura Lee DBE and Craig Chandler, project manager at contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, explain how carefully this balance of design is struck. The centres must be close enough to hospitals to work alongside treatment, but different enough to give patients and families a psychological shift away from the ward, corridor or consultation room. Routes, glazing, gardens and even the absence of conventional signage all contribute helping people feel less processed and more in control. Just as importantly, these are not generic wellbeing spaces. Each centre has to respond to its site, its users, and the practical demands of construction and maintenance on constrained hospital plots. The result is architecture that can be expressive and ambitious, while still helping people access support when they may be frightened, exhausted or unsure where to turn. On page 16, we widen the lens to talk to Robert Davies of Montgomery Sisam Architects, who is one of the designers behind the Ronald McDonald House Atlantic in Halifax, Canada. This building acts as a purpose-built home for children and their families, forced to travel long distances for medical treatment. Again, the building is more than a roof over people’s heads, helping families to remain near clinical care without having to live entirely within it, thus preserving rest, routine and togetherness during periods of acute stress. Together, the two stories underline an important point for healthcare design. The hospital is not the only building that shapes the patient journey. Adjacent spaces can have a significant role in dignity, resilience and emotional support, particularly where treatment is intensive, prolonged or far from home. Helen Adkins Editor Helen.Adkins@stable-media.co.uk Editor’s letter June 2026 30 years of Maggie’s – a vision for cancer care
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IN THIS ISSUE... June 2026 7 News A round-up of all the news from across the sector. 14 Designing sanctuary: inside Maggie’s healing spaces Dame Laura Lee DBE, chief executive of Maggie’s, joins Craig Chandler, project manager at Sir Robert McAlpine, to discuss how thoughtful design can offer comfort, calm and respite for people navigating cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Helen Adkins also speaks to Dame Laura about her journey with the charity and the enduring importance of creating welcoming, human-centred spaces for people affected by cancer. 17 The Ronald McDonald House Atlantic – A home away from hospital The new Ronald McDonald House Atlantic is one of the many purpose-built homes in the US and abroad for families travelling to hospitals for paediatric medical treatment. Robert Davies, Montgomery Sisam Architects, spoke to hdm editor Helen Adkins about how the latest project came about. 22 MMC and modular building moves to a new level As NHS Trusts look for faster ways to expand clinical capacity and replace ageing estate, David Hartley, MTX contracts managing director, explains how modular construction and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are moving beyond temporary accommodation into permanent healthcare buildings. 26 Achieving net zero with vinyl flooring Vinyl flooring has long been a go-to specification choice for healthcare environments. But, as demand grows for more sustainable solutions, Donna Hannaway, head of marketing UK and Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems, considers how vinyl measures up. 29 The Hidden Risks of Zero-Touch IT in Healthcare Causing delays to vital treatment and putting clinical staff under pressure, ‘zero-touch’ IT support can have a negative impact on patient care and clinician wellbeing. Max Baldwin, chief revenue officer at Serbus, outlines an effective approach to IT design that better supports healthcare provision. 32 Healthcare construction: Tackling uncertainty and building resilience Helen Pickering, global head of healthcare, and Martin Clark, UK head of healthcare at Currie & Brown, explore how better data, purposeful technology, skilled teams and an agile mindset can help healthcare organisations manage uncertainty and deliver capital projects with greater confidence. 14 17
DESIGN BUILD FINANCE At MTX, our full-service construction solution brings together design, build, finance, operation and maintenance expertise for healthcare building projects throughout the UK. From financial structuring to long-term facilities support, we offer NHS Trusts one single, streamlined route from concept to completion – ensuring every stage of delivery is aligned. With a proven track record of delivering high-quality results on time and to budget, we’re committed to shaping the future of NHS estates to meet the demands of modern healthcare – better, faster and greener than ever. East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
healthcaredm.co.uk 7 NEWS Same day emergency care unit completed at James Paget Hospital A same day emergency care unit at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, has been completed in just 16 weeks. The unit will provide emergency medical care and treatment to patients without the need for hospital admission, allowing them to be assessed, diagnosed and treated on the same day they arrive. Morgan Sindall was appointed by James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with the project procured through the Pagabo construction framework. The scheme involved transforming the hospital’s existing fractures clinic into the new unit, while the clinic was relocated to another part of the hospital site. The new facility includes a reception area, clinical area, 12 chair bays, eight bed bays, a drug preparation room and three nurse stations. New patient care facilities include a nurse call system, infrastructure for a medical gas distribution system, and a digital lighting and ventilation system that allows lighting to be dimmed in individual bays. The project was delivered in the centre of a live hospital and beneath a high-intensity unit, requiring careful coordination to minimise disruption to patients, staff and visitors. Clinical hoarding was installed to separate the works, while a dedicated route was kept open between A&E and surgical theatres. Morgan Sindall also used noise monitoring to ensure acoustic levels remained below an agreed limit. A communication process gave clinicians on the wards above a direct link to the construction team, allowing work to be paused during sensitive clinical situations or end-of-life care. Because work had to stop intermittently in response to clinical needs, the project was delivered under an accelerated programme, with staff working shifts on a 24/7 basis to meet the hospital’s deadline. The project team also carried out community work at the hospital’s Sandra Chapman Centre garden, which supports patients with malignant and non-malignant conditions, including blood disorders and cancers. Works included refurbishing the seating area, replacing paving slabs and a pergola, repairing guttering and adding new plants. ■ Newcastle diabetes centre opens at Freeman Hospital A new £3.2m diabetes centre has been completed at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, bringing together diabetes, podiatry and dietetic services in a refurbished hospital space. The Newcastle Diabetes Centre was designed by Medical Architecture and delivered by Robertson Construction North East for The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The facility, located on Level 2 of Freeman Hospital, replaces the service’s previous base at the Campus for Ageing and Vitality. The move follows a period of growth in patient numbers and is intended to provide more suitable accommodation for treatment, education and multidisciplinary working. The centre includes consulting and treatment rooms, open-plan office accommodation and education spaces for one-to-one appointments, small-group sessions and larger training events. The practice said the project was designed to support future changes in service delivery, while improving access for patients and creating a more legible environment within the hospital. The interior has been developed around universal design principles, with materials and finishes selected to support a wide range of users. A dementia-friendly approach informed the use of colour contrast, including Light Reflectance Values, to help patients with cognitive or visual impairments distinguish between surfaces. Wayfinding has also been addressed through signage, visual cues, feature colours and artwork. Local landmarks have been used as reference points within the interior to help patients recognise and navigate different areas of the centre. ■
8 healthcaredm.co.uk NEWS Bupa has opened a new outpatient and diagnostic centre in Canary Wharf, London, bringing together primary care, specialist diagnostics and dental services under one roof. Bupa Health Care Canary Wharf is based at 50 Bank Street, in the heart of London’s central business district. The 20,000 sq. ft centre will provide access to specialist medical care, treatment and wellbeing services for people working and living in the area. The centre will offer secondary care services including cardiology, urology, orthopaedics, pain and spinal care, as well as dental and maxillofacial services, breast and gynaecology, and ear, nose and throat care. Minor procedures will also be carried out on site. Its diagnostic facilities include MRI and CT scanners, an X-ray machine and a mammogram, allowing customers to move from scheduled appointments to further investigation within the same facility. Primary care services at the centre include health assessments, private GP appointments, women’s health services, including Bupa’s Menopause Plan and Period Plan, weight management and physiotherapy appointments. Bupa will also relocate its Canary Wharf Dental Care practice to 50 Bank Street, giving patients access to diagnostics, dental treatment and wider health services in one place. ■ Bupa opens centre in Canary Wharf Community Health Partnerships has moved one of the NHS’ first Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme Wave One schemes into delivery, after reaching financial close on a £2.1m project at Barbara Castle Way Health Centre in Blackburn. The milestone marks the start of works at the health centre and makes it the first CHP site in Wave One to progress into delivery following the launch of the national programme in April. Working with Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Eric Wright Group and local health partners, CHP will transform underused space within the existing building into a modern neighbourhood health hub. The redevelopment will support a broader mix of services at the site, including mental health, primary care network teams and community services, bringing more care closer to home for the local population. Barbara Castle Way Health Centre serves an area with significant health need, and CHP said the scheme highlights the role of community infrastructure in supporting the NHS shift towards more preventative, communitybased care. As a national NHS infrastructure specialist, CHP is supporting Integrated Care Systems across the country to move Neighbourhood Rebuild schemes from concept into construction, while making better use of the existing healthcare estate. A further 11 LIFT buildings are expected to move into the next phase of the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme. CHP said further schemes will follow in the coming months as the Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme continues to support the development of neighbourhood health infrastructure across England. ■ CHP leads delivery of first Neighbourhood Rebuild scheme A major new endoscopy facility at Bradford Royal Infirmary has opened to the public, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of modern diagnostic and therapeutic services in the region. The purpose built unit features eight procedure rooms and private pods each with its own en-suite bathroom, designed to enhance privacy, dignity and comfort before and after procedures. The two-storey unit is physically linked to the main hospital building, enabling seamless access for inpatients, while also providing a separate entrance for outpatients. The building also incorporates flexibility to support growing demand for endoscopy services over time. Sustainability has been embedded within the project, with energy-efficient lighting, photovoltaic panels and intelligent building management systems contributing to lower operational carbon emissions. Landscaping and green spaces have been introduced to support biodiversity, and the vast majority of construction waste was diverted from landfill. Construction consultants McBains worked collaboratively with the wider project team, supporting contract compliance, quality assurance and effective communication between stakeholders, ensuring the project progressed in line with agreed outcomes while maintaining focus on patient needs and long-term value. Rob Kirton, senior clerk of works at McBains, said: ‘The new facility has been designed with patient dignity, operational efficiency and future demand in mind, and we’re proud to have played a role in supporting its successful delivery for Bradford Royal Infirmary.’ ■ New endoscopy facility for Bradford
healthcaredm.co.uk 9 NEWS Nottinghamshire’s first community diagnostic centre opens Nottinghamshire’s first community diagnostic centre has officially opened. The purpose-built centre has been delivered for Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with project management consultancy, quantity surveying and CDM adviser support from Pulse Consult. Kier was the contractor on the scheme, with CPMG Architects and Hexa also part of the project team. The facility has been designed to provide up to 100,000 tests each year, supporting faster diagnoses, reducing pressure on acute services and improving access to care in the community. It combines new infrastructure with elements of the existing estate. Sustainability measures include solar PV panels, a green roof and an all-electric building design. Pulse Consult was appointed in 2023 and worked with the wider team to support delivery of the centre as part of the NHS’s wider strategy to expand diagnostic capacity and modernise its estate. Tom Howells, board director and national head of healthcare at Pulse Consult, said: ‘Delivering this facility at pace, while maintaining quality and long-term value, required absolute alignment across every project partner.’ Dr James Thomas, deputy chief medical officer at Sherwood Forest Hospitals and clinical lead for the CDC project, said: ‘The opening of Nottinghamshire’s first community diagnostic centre marks a significant step forward in how we deliver care for our patients. ‘This facility reflects the strength of partnership working across multiple organisations, all aligned behind a shared goal of improving access and outcomes for our communities. It’s a big step forward in how we care for our communities across Nottinghamshire.’ ■ UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic reduces electricity-grid reliance through long-term energy programme UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic has significantly reduced its reliance on Ireland’s electricity grid through a long-term energy partnership with Enel X. The Dublin healthcare provider has worked with Enel X for more than a decade to use its backup generator capacity to support demand response and frequency response services. The programme has allowed the hospital to strengthen the resilience of Ireland’s electricity system while generating additional revenue and maintaining continuity of care for patients. Under the arrangement, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic’s backup generator capacity can be called on during periods of grid pressure, helping balance supply and demand without affecting hospital operations. The partnership demonstrates how healthcare estates can contribute to wider energy resilience while making better use of existing infrastructure. For hospitals, where reliable power is essential to patient safety, the ability to participate in grid-support programmes without disruption offers both operational and financial benefits. UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic said the programme has run smoothly for 13 years, with no impact on patient care or clinical operations. The work also reflects the growing importance of energy efficiency, resilience and sustainability across healthcare estates, as providers look to reduce costs, support decarbonisation and improve infrastructure performance. ■ Morgan Sindall Construction has completed two major healthcare projects for Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, boosting local capacity and improving patient services. The contractor’s Northern Home Counties business has delivered the Oak Wards expansion, providing two new 24-bed wards with modern patient, staff and support spaces. The facility was opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by MKUH staff, Morgan Sindall representatives, Deputy Mayor of Milton Keynes and Councillor Paul Trendall. Morgan Sindall has also handed over the hospital’s new £18.5m Imaging Centre, a purpose-built two-storey facility featuring two MRI rooms, two CT scanners and six ultrasound machines, alongside patient waiting, changing and clinical support areas. Both schemes were delivered through Pagabo frameworks in a live hospital environment, requiring careful coordination to minimise disruption. Sustainability measures across the projects include air source heat pumps, improved insulation, biodiversity-focused landscaping, a green roof and carbonsaving design changes. Emma Curtis, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Northern Home Counties, said the projects would ‘make a genuine difference’ for patients, staff and the wider Milton Keynes community. MKUH said the developments form part of its wider estate investment programme and will support improved patient flow, diagnostics, dignity and recovery. ■ Morgan Sindall delivers two major healthcare facilities at Milton Keynes hospital
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healthcaredm.co.uk 11 HEALTHCARE DESIGN Ninewells Hospital, Dundee (2003). Designed by Frank Gehry, with gardens by Arabella Lennox-Boyd and sculpture by Antony Gormley © Raf Makda Maggie’s centres Dame Laura Lee DBE, chief executive of Maggie’s, and Craig Chandler, project manager at Sir Robert McAlpine, discuss how thoughtful design can provide comfort, calm and respite for people navigating cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery For thirty years, Maggie’s has been transforming the experience of cancer care by providing free support centres for NHS hospital estates across the UK. Designed as welcoming, nonclinical environments, these centres offer a home-away-from-home for people living with cancer, throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Central to Maggie’s philosophy is the belief that architecture can play a meaningful role in wellbeing, creating spaces that offer comfort and respite during some of life’s most challenging moments. This laid the foundation for a longstanding partnership with Tier 1 contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, which has been bringing Maggie’s founder Maggie Keswick Jencks’ vision to life ever ‘For designers, architects and contractors working on Maggie’s sites, it’s always been imperative that a space feels personal to the people making use of it’ since they came together to build the Singleton Hospital in Swansea – designed to emulate a whirlpool. Ten projects later, Maggie’s and Sir Robert McAlpine are still pushing the boundaries of healthcare property design. Across these ten sites, conceptual design inspired by Norwegian, Japanese and American architecture, amongst others, aims to raise people’s spirits, even just for a split second. By no means is it possible to fix people’s situations through design and architecture alone but, by considering the needs of people with cancer, these spaces can acknowledge the challenges people are facing and provide temporary respite in between hospital visits and treatment plans. So, how do we achieve this? Keswick Jencks described her own personal experience of a cancer diagnosis as ‘a punch in the stomach’. Left to digest her diagnosis in a windowless corridor, this experience led to the vision of a space that met the wants and needs of those experiencing cancer. For Maggie’s centres, location is key. They are situated onsite at NHS cancer care facilities, to dovetail perfectly with the provision of nearby medical treatment. When used in tandem, Maggie’s aims to provide the ‘normal’ that can be needed for those navigating a diagnosis. THE MAGGIE’S EXPERIENCE As specified in their bespoke architectural brief, Maggie’s states that it’s preferable that landscapers, designers and architects work hand in hand to ensure that the interplay between indoors and outdoors is considered. Thoughtfully crafted walkways and paths can help to create a sense that you are being guided into the building. This can be helpful for those who are potentially >> Singleton Hospital, Swansea (2011). Designed by Kisho Kurokawa, with gardens by Kim Wilkie
12 healthcaredm.co.uk HEALTHCARE DESIGN The Royal Oldham Hospital, Oldham (2017). Designed by Alex de Rijke of dRMM, with garden design by Rupert Muldoon © Tony Barwell experiencing distress paralysis, unsure where to turn or what to do. With architecture intended to warmly welcome people into the space, this natural transition from the hospital to a Maggie’s centre provides people with a sense of guidance that goes beyond treatment. Each Maggie’s centre should feel like a breath of fresh air when you first enter the space. This is why open-plan design is non-negotiable. Ensuring there is no stagnant space, each corner and room is designed with intention, drawing people in and encouraging them to explore. Alongside its complex architecture, each site abides by a set of rules that enhance people’s welcome. Anyone who steps foot inside a Maggie’s centre is greeted at the door by a member of staff or volunteer, as opposed to being faced with a clinical reception desk. The open-plan kitchen layout of each Maggie’s space lends itself beautifully to boiling a kettle whilst chatting and brewing a cup of tea. In a similar vein, creating a sense of being in someone’s house allows people to relax whilst visiting a Maggie’s – for example, by using intentional architecture and design to ‘lead’ people where they need to go, negating the need for signposting in long, unfamiliar corridors. Common feedback at Maggie’s across the UK all shares a similar sentiment – that Maggie’s centres are special places that provide an aesthetically soothing home away from home. When visiting friends or family in their homes, it’s rare to be greeted with signs on the wall pointing to bathrooms or parking. This lack of signposting leads to genuine human connection and interaction, instead leading visitors to ask volunteers and staff questions like, ‘Where’s the nearest bathroom?’ or ‘How do I get to the garden?’. This naturally guides people into exploring the space, potentially stumbling across reading nooks and other cosy corners. This sense of the unknown as a positive is particularly powerful for people who are otherwise daunted by the unknowns surrounding their diagnosis. Able to provide a distraction from this for the duration of their visit, Maggie’s sites take people’s minds off the mundane reality of day-to-day appointments and treatment. PERSONALISED SPACES For designers, architects and contractors working on Maggie’s sites, it’s always been imperative that a space feels personal to the people making use of it. With homely interior design features, people should feel able to move a chair from one room St James’s University Hospital, Leeds (2019). Designed by Heatherwick Studio, with landscape by Balston Aguis Royal Marsden, London (2019). Designed by Ab Rogers Design, with landscape gardens by Piet Oudolf © John Short
healthcaredm.co.uk 13 HEALTHCARE DESIGN Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow (2011). Designed by Rem Koolhaas of OMA, with landscaping by Lily Jencks, daughter of Maggie Keswick Jencks and Charles Jencks © Lily Jencks Library at Maggie’s Kirkcaldy Hospital, Fife (2006). Designed by Dame Zaha Hadid © Chris Gascoigne to another, or to take a throw, blanket or cushion to a different area they want to relax in. For those who can’t quite face stepping outside, but still want to reap the mental health benefits that come with exposure to nature, greenery and natural light, it’s important that they feel able to take in award-winning garden design through windows – which is why floor-toceiling glazing panels are a staple of Maggie’s centres. Additionally, transitional spaces are expertly implemented to allow for social interaction, whilst providing the option for a moment alone if need be. Use of sliding doors, like those used at the Maggie’s centre in Northampton, allows for these open-plan spaces to meet shifting needs, in line with the personal preferences of those visiting. With adjustable layouts, rooms easily become multifunctional. For instance, with doorways large enough to swap the furniture in and out, spaces can become yoga studios, socialising spaces or rooms for one-to-one sessions at the drop of a hat. SURROUNDED BY INNOVATION When trying to stay within strict margins and tight budgets, the restorative power of architecture can be overlooked. This is why it is crucial that construction teams are brought on at an early stage of a project to advise on how to bring healthcare design to life. Maggie’s unique centres are only made possible by holistic consideration and pre-emptive planning during a project’s earliest stages. Although underestimated, reframing traditional healthcare settings through design makes people more likely to take that first step, enter a building and access the support inside. Viewing the building as an art installation or sculpture helps detract from the fact that ultimately people are there because they’re visiting a cancer care facility. Instead, by redefining the purpose of a healthcare >> ‘As wellbeing increasingly crops up in conversation across all industries, disciplines and sectors, what do we want to see in the future for thoughtful healthcare design’
14 healthcaredm.co.uk HEALTHCARE DESIGN Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen (2013). Building and landscape designed by Snøhetta © PHILIPVILE environment, people can focus on the evocative design in front of them. At the Maggie’s centre in Northampton, the architecturally unique and precisely engineered cantilevered roof required careful planning and skilled execution. A labour of love for project managers, you can see the feat of architectural excellence from the road as you drive towards the adjacent cancer care facility. Whilst designing the roof in Northampton, the project management team at Sir Robert McAlpine wanted to ensure that it could stand the test of time and continue to serve its purpose long after project completion. Early project planning Northampton General Hospital, Northampton (2025). Designed by Stephen Marshall, with landscape design by Arne Maynard ensured that, although intricate, through integration of removable panelling, the roof could be cleaned with ease. Other examples of this include strategic placement of lightbulbs, within reaching distance so they can be changed easily, and ensuring that architecturally complex design features can still be cleaned regularly and easily. A LASTING IMPACT As wellbeing increasingly crops up in conversation across all industries, disciplines and sectors, what do we want to see in the future for thoughtful healthcare design? Currently viewed as an innovative option, when are we going to see a shift towards wider rollout of wellbeing as a driving factor for healthcare design decisions? Setting out a blueprint for wellbeingconscious construction, Maggie’s and Sir Robert McAlpine have helped pave the way for other healthcare property providers. Now, looking ahead, we hope that the restorative power of this innovative form of design and architecture can be emulated across the country and beyond. ■ www.maggies.org www.srm.com Raigmore Hospital, Inverness (2005). Designed by David Page and Brian Park, with landscaping by Charles Jencks
healthcaredm.co.uk 15 HEALTHCARE DESIGN Dame Laura Lee’s connection with Maggie’s began when she met Maggie Keswick Jencks as an oncology nurse in Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Sharing Maggie’s belief that people with cancer needed warm, practical and non-clinical support alongside hospital treatment, Dame Lee helped turn that vision into reality after Maggie’s death. She went on to become the driving force behind the charity, guiding its growth from a single centre in Edinburgh into an international network, now marking its 30th anniversary. HDM editor Helen Adkins spoke to her to find out more about that vision. ‘I was an oncology nurse when I first met Maggie Keswick Jencks, who had trained as an architect and a landscape designer. Alongside her husband, who was an architectural critic and writer, she understood the power of buildings and environments and landscapes. It wasn’t until I became Maggie’s first employee, working from the charity’s first centre in Edinburgh, that I began to understand the impact a beautifully designed building and gardens could have in offering support and care to people with cancer, and to their family and friends, as they navigated the challenges of a cancer diagnosis. There was something about the building that made them feel safe to tell me about their worries and concerns. It was something about the building that communicated time and hope that they hadn’t experienced whilst meeting me in the hospital environment. So, very early on, I came to understand the power of the impact that the built environment could have in terms of caring for people. My first role was programme director. I Interview with Dame Laura Lee DBE was there basically to run the charity, and to lead the programme of care that the centre was to offer. But since I was the only employee, I was project managing the building programme. All of it. But the early days were brilliant because architects understand how to lead a design team and work hand-in-hand with contractors. There were challenges such as delays in construction or the need for drawings, so sometimes there would be tensions, but my experience very early on was witnessing collaboration at its best. It may be because we had a beautiful project that would be giving something back to people with cancer, but my first interaction with the construction world was one of collaboration and a willingness to help teach me the skills I needed. I felt very lucky. The construction trade has to work with the hospital and the estates department and know how to manage noise when working in a construction site alongside a public building. So I witnessed a brilliant profession who did more than just put up bricks and a roof. The first centre in Edinburgh, designed by Richard Murphy, was set up as a pilot project. We didn’t know if it would work, whether people would come, or whether or not people would appreciate what a beautifully designed building had to offer. But it was a brilliant success and won architectural awards, and is still valued by the cancer community, who then asked if they could have something similar for patients in other places. The first centre that we did in England was at Charing Cross Hospital, which was the Richard Rogers Maggie’s Centre. Then we opened the Frank Gehry Maggie’s Centre in Dundee, which was a very special moment, with paparazzi attending the opening, like a film premier. Gordon Brown, being Prime Minister at the time, opened the centre by Dame Zaha Hadid in Kirkcaldy. Again, how amazing is it that the people of Kirkcaldy have the first Zaha Hadid building in the UK? Choosing the right architect is important – one who is experienced enough to know how to meet the brief, which is a very emotional brief. They must offer up light at a point of most darkness for people’s lives, and know how to offer beauty and delight while people are feeling fearful. Norman Foster and Richard Rogers were friends of Maggie herself, so they wanted to do something in memory of their love for her and they set the tone. These days, lots of architects write to me to share their work. Frank Gehry, for instance, travelled from Los Angeles to Dundee, visited the site and selected where he felt the building should go. It was very personal. That’s what matters to us. Everyone within the design team really commits to this because these are long projects that people have to work on for many years. A building project takes time, from the design which must meet the client’s needs, getting planning and all the permissions, and then the detailed designing. And, alongside that, we’ve got to raise the money to build it. And even when people don’t know who Richard Rogers or Frank Gehry is, the people who use the centres will talk about how the buildings makes them feel hugged from the minute they walk in the door. I think it’s not easy for a building to make people feel at home in, because obviously home for most of us is the place that we feel most safe and secure. That’s the biggest compliment that one of our buildings can offer – that people feel at home.’ ■ Charing Cross Hospital, London (2008). Designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, with garden design by Dan Pearson © Adam Hollier Maggie Keswick Jencks
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healthcaredm.co.uk 17 PROJECT A home away from hospital The new Ronald McDonald House Atlantic is a purpose-built home for families travelling to Halifax, Canada, for paediatric medical treatment. Robert Davies, Montgomery Sisam Architects, spoke to hdm editor Helen Adkins about how the project came about Photographer: Julian Parkinson The new Ronald McDonald House Atlantic (RMHA) is located directly across from the IWK Health Centre in downtown Halifax, Canada, where many families travel for paediatric medical treatment. At the heart of the 40,000 sq. ft facility is a simple but powerful idea – to give families a place of solace, connection and everyday normality during a period of extraordinary stress. Designed to nearly double capacity and quadruple the space of the previous 18-suite house, the building provides 36 family suites, including four specially designed two-bedroom units, plus communal kitchens, play and activity spaces and a courtyard. There’s also a fitness room, a theatre and a spiritual room. Families are asked to contribute a small fee per night, although ‘no family is ever turned away’ for the inability to stay. Helen Adkins: Can you give me an overview of the project? How did it come about? Robert Davies: Ronald McDonald House Charities started in the early 1970s in Philadelphia, when an NFL football player’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Through that experience, he and others recognised that many families travelling from outside the city for treatment struggled to find affordable accommodation near the hospital. The whole purpose of the charity is to provide housing for families whose children need intense medical care, and who live too far away from the hospital to return home each day. Ronald McDonald House Charities is now in more than 60 countries around the world, but each house – they call them houses – has its own board and is a separate charitable entity. It’s grown over a 50-year period to be this remarkable organisation that really helps families at a tremendous time of need. How did Montgomery Sisam Architects become involved? Our involvement started with the charity in 2007 or 2008, when the Toronto House needed to expand from accommodating 20 to 80 families. This came as a result of the growing success of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, which is one of the most advanced children’s hospitals in the world. However, at the time, there was no Ronald McDonald House anywhere near that size. The closest one was in Manhattan, so we went down and visited it in order to see how to scale it up. The house in Manhattan is basically like a big apartment block for 60 families – a 14-storey building with a small footprint because land is so expensive there. What we discovered after looking at all the other houses was that there were no design guidelines. So, as architects, we started ask, how does this thing actually work, and what is working and what isn’t? The Toronto House opened in 2011. Then, a colleague in Halifax who had been tracking Ronald McDonald House Atlantic and knew that they were going to be >>
18 healthcaredm.co.uk PROJECT designing a new house, contacted me and asked if I would like to join his team. Of course I said yes. What were the key design challenges of each site? Understandably, in every house, everyone gets a room with a bathroom and a place to sleep. What we realised though was, even though there’s just one child that’s sick, families might have to bring many more children along with them because there’s nobody at home to leave them with. It meant that there might be five and six people sleeping in one room. So, we do have 36 family suites, but also four two-bedroom units with in-suite kitchens for immune-compromised patients or those on extended stays. The whole process of making meals was another issue. In the case of the Manhattan House, there are seven domestic-style kitchens that up to eight families are assigned to and have to share. If more than two families are occupying the kitchen at the same time, the other families have to go back to their room and wait. Meanwhile, there may be five empty kitchens elsewhere. We asked, how are we going to get around this problem? That’s where we started looking at diners. We designed this style of kitchen in the Toronto House, which we then replicated in Halifax. It’s basically one big refectory area with a series of islands. Each island has two cooking stations, and allocated refrigerators and sinks. Basically, it’s a series of open kitchens, all adjacent to each other. All of a sudden, mealtimes became communal and a marvellous thing. We installed tables and, like a diner, booths, which are perfect for when families might want to be private and more sheltered. All the lessons that we had learned in
healthcaredm.co.uk 19 PROJECT Photographer: Julian Parkinson Toronto, we were able to export. What’s gratifying is that a number of other houses are now starting to have similar design responses to the issues that we just talked about. How did the design evolve from Toronto to Halifax? Firstly, the site at Halifax is smaller than the Toronto House. It was basically a leftover piece of property owned by the provincial government that they didn’t quite know what to do with. Halifax is built on granite, so it’s just this rock base, and there was a steep drop-off at the southern edge of the property. So, we had a limited footprint to deal with. The real thing about the design of the building was to make it the antidote of the hospital – the opposite of the clinical environment that patients and their families spend so much of their day in. The idea is that when you cross the threshold into your new home, you can just feel this is different. You can find areas for privacy or find communal areas, depending on how you are feeling. We realise that emotions will be very different for people, so we have tried to accommodate those needs. In what ways does this project reflect a broader shift towards more humancentred design in healthcare-adjacent architecture? Historically, healthcare-adjacent facilities were often viewed primarily as places to meet functional needs, driven largely by technological advancements. Today, >> ‘You can find areas for privacy or find communal areas, depending on how you are feeling’
20 healthcaredm.co.uk PROJECT Upon arrival, a vibrant red tile wall – reminiscent of the old RMHA’s beloved red door – sets a warm and familiar tone. A central courtyard, complete with playhouse, barbecues and an outdoor dining area, serves as the building’s primary organising element. Around it are administrative offices and communal spaces, including a foyer, lounge, parlour, playroom and activity rooms, plus a shared kitchen and dining room, arranged to maximise daylight and views. The residential component rises in a single four-storey block, with eight family bedrooms on each floor, each with a private washroom. One larger suite per floor is designed for extended stays, while laundry and lounge areas support daily living. Accessibility was a core principle, with RMHA achieving Rick Hansen Accessibility Certification Gold. Sustainability was also central: RMHA targets net-zero carbon under the Zero Carbon Building Design V3 Energy Standard, with a high-performance cooling, and water-source heat pumps, as well as energy recovery ventilators, and solar panels expected to supply up to 20% of the building’s electricity. Size: 40,000 sq. ft Date of completion: 2025 Architects involved: Montgomery Sisam Architects in association with Lydon Lynch Architects Interior Designer: Sarah Baeumler Design Group Contractor: RCS Construction Landscape design: Vollick McKee Petersmann & Associates Ltd Engineering: Campbell Comeau Engineering (Structural), M&R Engineering (Mechanical & Electrical), Able Engineering Services Inc. (Civil) Design at a glance Ronald McDonald House, Toronto, Canada © Younes Bounhar of doublespace photography there is a growing recognition that the environment itself plays an important role in supporting wellbeing. This project reflects that shift by focussing, not only on accommodation, but on the day-today experience of families during what is often an incredibly challenging time. The design prioritises dignity, choice and a sense of normalcy. Families have access to private rooms, as well as shared kitchens, dining spaces, lounges, play areas, and outdoor environments that encourage connection and support. A central courtyard, abundant natural light, views to nature and a residential character help create a setting that feels distinct from the hospital environment. Rather than focussing solely on efficiency, the project responds to the practical and emotional needs of families, whether they stay for a few days or a longer period of time. I hope families will remember it as a place that helped them navigate an incredibly difficult chapter in their lives with a greater sense of comfort and stability. ■
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22 healthcaredm.co.uk MODULAR CONSTRUCTION MMC and modular building moves to a new level As NHS Trusts look for faster and more efficient ways to expand clinical capacity and replace ageing estate, modular construction and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are moving beyond temporary accommodation into permanent healthcare buildings. David Hartley, managing director at MTX Contracts Ltd, explains Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and modular building techniques are playing an increasingly significant role in NHS estate development, as Trusts look for new ways to deliver clinical capacity more quickly, while maintaining standards around compliance, quality and longterm use. The approach is no longer limited to temporary or short-term accommodation. Across the healthcare estate, modular and hybrid MMC methods are now being used to deliver permanent clinical buildings, including operating theatres, critical care facilities, endoscopy units and Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs). One of the main drivers is programme certainty. By manufacturing structural modules off site while enabling works, groundworks or site preparation take place in parallel, project teams can reduce the amount of time spent on constrained hospital sites. Once delivered, the modules can be craned into position and assembled over a relatively short period, creating a weatherproof structure ready for fit-out. Healthcare construction specialist MTX is among the companies applying this approach on NHS projects. Its current programme includes a 7,541m² Surgical Elective Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, as well as developments at Wycombe Hospital and Llantrisant Health Park near Cardiff. The projects reflect a broader shift in how NHS organisations are considering modular construction – not simply as a rapid-build option, but as a way to provide permanent healthcare assets capable of supporting changing clinical needs. MTX is also working with Trusts on Managed Services contract models, designed to support the financing of new developments where access to upfront capital is constrained. These models form part of the wider discussion around how public-private partnership structures may help deliver NHS infrastructure. SURGICAL CAPACITY AT JOHN RADCLIFFE The arrival of 365 offsite-manufactured structural modules marked a key milestone in the development of the Surgical Elective Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital. The five-storey project for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is due to open in phases in the autumn, starting with the first of seven new operating theatres on Level One. The modules were craned into position over an eight-week period, transforming a site within the hospital campus from a car park into a weatherproof building ready for fit-out. The Level One development includes two hybrid operating theatres, designed to support advanced procedures across multiple specialties. The remaining Colchester Hospital orthopaedic centre
healthcaredm.co.uk 23 MODULAR CONSTRUCTION levels will initially be finished to a shell specification, allowing further clinical facilities to be installed in future. One of the largest elective orthopaedic centres in Europe, with eight dedicated orthopaedic operating theatres and 72 patient beds, was created by MTX at Colchester Hospital. The Essex and Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Centre (ESEOC) was designed to handle up to 10,500 patient cases each year, including almost 4,000 day cases. It caters for patients requiring planned operations on bones, joints and muscles, including hip and knee replacements. The three-storey 11,000m² facility for East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) became operational last year as the largest MMC development of its kind in the UK. It was built in five phases, using a total of 293 offsite-manufactured structural steel units. The new building was delivered through a two-stage contract. The preconstruction services contract was awarded in 2020 and MTX worked with the Trust to bring the design to RIBA stage four. Planning permission for the ESEOC was granted in June 2021. REPLACING AGEING ESTATE AT WYCOMBE HOSPITAL At Wycombe Hospital, modular construction is being used to support the replacement of the outdated estate. This will be a 15,000m² six-storey building that will allow Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust to move core services out of the ageing Wycombe Tower Block, which is considered unsuitable for long-term use. By bringing existing services together in a purpose-built facility, the Trust aims to improve clinical adjacencies, operational efficiency, patient safety, and the experience of patients and staff. >> ‘Pre-construction Services Agreements allow project teams to test feasibility, refine designs and assess buildability before moving into the main construction phase’ Colchester Hospital orthopaedic centre Colchester Hospital orthopaedic centre
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