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MRI Unit

St Georges Hospital, Blackshaw Rd, Tooting London

Sector: Healthcare & Offsite

Visual of Proposal

Background

ESS Modular appointed bpArchitecture to work as part of the design team on a Design and Build construction project for a three storey extension to St Georges hospital to be accessed from one of the hospital streets.

The hospital were in great need of new MRI scanners to replace an old scanner.

They opted to purchase three new MRI Scanners located in a purpose constructed MRI suite..... but needed this quickly.

Utilising Offsite Modular Construction techniques allowed the building to be designed and delivered in a short time frame, to a tight budget while retaining a high-quality finish.  

Site constraints also offered restrictions, the building was to be dropped into a tight courtyard 2m from the hospital block to its left, and 4m from an office block to its right. 7m was left between a treatment unit on a third side to allow space for a crane to be locateed.

To further add to delivery complications, the air ambulance operated from the adjacent building during the day, and so modules had to be lifted into place ovrnight, and the crane dropped every morning during a four week period whilst the superstructure was lifted into place.

Cladding and an internal fit out was then carried out on site. However, a 4 week period to get superstructure into place greatly reduced the impact on teh overall hospital. .

Design Solution and Facilities
The builkding is designed utilising a pallete of three materials.

A single storey grey irregular clad box houses the MRI scanners,

The central three storey rendered block, with feature dark blue glazed tiled features contains treatment rooms and sub waitig area at ground floor and a Reporting suite and MDT trainging room at first floor, with plantroom on the top floor.

An end two storey block plugs into the hospital corridor, also clad in white render, feature blue tiles and portal shades to windows contains, waiting rooms, consultaint rooms, changing and ancillary space at ground floor, reporting rooms at first floor, with roof top plant above..

Effects of the Pandemic
As the building was designed pre pandemic and had gone through two tenders to reach an affordable solution. We made some design cahnges to the layout at ground and first floor to respond to issues experinced during the pandemic. More changing rooms were formed, toilets were moved to more appropriate positions, and the main waiting area was increased in size to allow more space. This meant that the building increased in length

Sustainability
Using modular construction allowed the frame to be packed with insulation, this was enhanced by category A1 external cladding offset from the modular frame and two skins of internal plasterboard lining.

The roof top plant room provided a sepaaration zone between the offices and elements helping cool air to be delivered quickly to the reporting suite.

An internal lightwell is incorporated into the end block to drop natural light into the reception and waiting room.

Landscape and External Works
The end of the single storey scanner block has been fitted with two green wall eleents facing a landscaped courtyard. These green walls are planted with colourful plants and fitted with an automatic watering system. The landscaped courtyard provides a pleasant space for staff and visitors to sit in during lunchtime and break periods.

A further paved side courtyard has been incorporated in the 4m gap between the adjacent building to provide space for staff to sit out in lucnh breaks.

Social Value
The building is designed to provide a comfortable and welcomeing environment for Patients visiting the unit. Colour and space and light have been incorporatd into the ground floor to assist with patient experince.

The first floor staff rest, changing areas have been designed with windows to provide natural light, separate staff toilets and showers off the changing area, and a comfortable tea station with seating area and outlook onto a roof terrace for staff rest.

The reporting suite has been fitted with benchdesking to provide as much room for staff to work as possible. Low level lighting is used to help enhance imagery being viewed.

Signage and wayfinding has been carefully considered to guide Patients into and through the space.

The external landscaped courtyard gardens provide pleasant spaces for staff to sit in during breaks, and for patients to sit in and chill out after or before a visit. Plants and smell and colour aimed at provideing a relacing and tranquil space to get away from the environment.

Status: Complete 2022
Value: £5.5m
Type: Modular
Contract: Design and Build
Client: St Georges NHS Trust
Architect: bpArchitecture
Contractor: ESS Modular
Principal Designer: AHP
Structural Engineer: Edge Structural
Civil Engineer: Arc Engineers
Accoustic Consultant SOL Accoustics
BREEAM: Create Consulting
MRI Specialist Contractor : Appollo Building Services & Siemens<
Mech Contractor : CMB & Future Serv
Electrical Contractor : Winters Electrical