Healthcare sectorHot topics, approaches and case studies

The engineering of excellence

Front cover: Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, UK Image: Buro Happold / Mandy ReynoldsThis page: Robin House Children’s Hospice, Balloch, UK Image: Buro Happold / Andrew LeeBack cover: Moorgate Primary Care Centre, Bury, UK Image: Miller Construction

Modern healthcare buildings need to satisfy a wide range of criteria: they must be constructed

quickly and economically and have a low carbon footprint; they must provide healthy environments

that promote recovery, while being able to adapt to future technologies and changes of use. They

must also meet stringent requirements for energy performance, infection control, operational

efficiency and inclusive access.

Achieving these objectives requires innovative thinking, a commitment to good design and above

all a practical awareness of what makes the sector tick. With growing evidence that a well thought-

out, comfortable and upbeat environment can have a highly positive impact on patient outcomes

– as well as staff morale – the challenge is to create high quality, appealing buildings that are also

sustainable, easy to construct and economical to run.

As multi-disciplinary engineers, Buro Happold believes that best value can be achieved through the

integration of the structural, environmental and infrastructure elements involved in the design. This

holistic approach is well suited to the specialised demands of the healthcare sector, where technical

advances, new treatments and changes to acute and primary care provision are fast

transforming healthcare delivery.

Collecting together our thoughts and learning from Buro Happold’s global network, a number

of important themes have emerged and they are discussed in this document. As you will read,

our thorough knowledge of the complex issues facing healthcare providers – together with our

technical and creative skills – enable us to design optimal healing environments that meet the

needs of 21st century patients.

If you have any queries regarding this document, or would like more information on the services

we provide, please do not hesitate to contact me. To find out more about our work in this and other

sectors take a look at www.burohappold.com and go to news > publications.

Andy Parker

Global Sector Director, Buro Happold

andy.parker@burohappold.com

Introduction

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Project ShowcaseDelivering innovative solutions with world class architects

Aldershot Centre for HealthAldershot Garrison, UK Architect: SR Architects

Cynon Valley Primary Care UnitMerthyr Tydfil, Wales Architect: HLM Architects

Pontefract General InfirmaryWakefield, UK Architect: Avanti Architects

Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM)University of Edinburgh, UK Architect: Sheppard Robson

Robin House Children’s HospiceBalloch, UK Architect: Gareth Hoskins Architects

Evelina Children’s HospitalLondon, UK Architect: Michael Hopkins and Partners

York University Biosciences Research FacilityYork, UK Architect: Anshen Dyer

Nuffield HospitalLeeds, UK Architect: careyjones

Nanoscience and Quantum Information LaboratoryUniversity of Bristol, UK Architect: Capita Architecture

Bluestone Mental Health UnitCraigavon, N Ireland, UK Architect: David Morley Architects / Hall Black Douglas

Prince Charles HospitalMerthyr Tydfil, UK Architect: David Hutchinson Partnership

Stanley Primary Care CentreStanley, Durham, UK Architect: Steffian Bradley Architects

Moorgate Primary Care CentreBury, Lancashire, UK Architect: DLA Architecture

30 Sustainable design Helping clients to meet sustainability targets and create positive working environments

32 Meeting carbon targets: Applying practical, low carbon strategies saves energy and reduces emissions

34 BREEAM and LEED assessment: Setting the standard for best practice in sustainable healthcare design

35 Sustainable materials: Using the most appropriate materials can have environmental benefits and aesthetic appeal

36 Use of renewable energy sources: Renewables can contribute to meeting carbon targets and reducing energy costs

38 Working in partnership Collaborating with the client and design team to create 21st century healthcare facilities

40 Stakeholder and client involvement: Working closely with clients and stakeholders ensures all patient requirements are met

42 Multi-disciplinary working: Our comprehensive range of integrated services adds value to the design process

8 Optimal environments Designing high quality environments suitable for world class healthcare

10 Lighting and ventilation: Effective lighting and ventilation provides comfortable, healthy, low energy environments

12 Acoustics: Sound is a major factor in creating the right conditions for rest and recovery

13 Controlling hospital infections: Infection control in hospitals can be promoted through good quality, holistic design

14 Specialist care environments: Well-designed healthcare facilities have a positive impact on patient comfort and wellbeing

16 Hospital security: Our specialist security team delivers integrated solutions to mitigate security risks in healthcare buildings

18 Adding value Delivering functional buildings that achieve exceptional value

20 Flexible construction and design: Flexible healthcare buildings meet present needs while enabling future changes of use

22 Optimising performance: Analysing all aspects of the building design satisfies performance criteria while providing value for money

24 Fire safety: The safe management and evacuation of patients in the event of a fire is a crucial element in hospital design

26 ICT: The need for a robust ICT infrastructure is a vital part of modern healthcare facilities

27 Refurbishment: Re-use of existing stock can satisfy the demand for services while operating within strict budgets

28 Reducing energy costs in operation: Features that reduce energy consumption have both environmental and cost saving benefits

29 Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE): POE assesses buildings to optimise performance and reduce energy costs

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The key issuesAn overview of our problem-solving capabilities in the healthcare sector

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Research has shown a clear link between the design of healthcare facilities and successful patient

outcomes. The use of natural heating, lighting and ventilation, acoustic privacy and bright, spacious

treatment areas create a comfortable and upbeat environment for recovery, while reducing

operational energy costs and improving infection control. Delivering healthcare in ergonomically

designed, accessible spaces also has a positive effect on medical staff, aiding recruitment, retention

and productivity.

The growing cost of hospital treatment means that measures to optimise the internal environment can be very cost-effective in terms of faster patient throughput, reducing the need for drugs and shortening the length of stay. High levels of daylight – as well as pleasant views of the outside – have been shown to be particularly beneficial, helping to alleviate stress and improve sleep patterns. Openable windows also make a major contribution to occupant comfort by enhancing air quality and controlling summertime heat gains.

Buro Happold is a pioneer in the use of sustainable strategies and technologies, including low energy facades, external shading systems, integrated building services and passive climate control. Working closely with Trusts and other healthcare providers, our engineers and consultants are able to influence all areas of the design to create a balanced environment best suited to a building’s use, making it more sustainable and easy to maintain over its entire lifecycle.

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“Our challenge is to provide world class healthcare environments that promote patient care and aid recovery, while minimising running costs and environmental impact.”Steve MaceyAssociate Director, Buro Happold

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Optimal EnvironmentsImproving the healthcare experience through quality design

Lanchester Road Hospital, Durham, UK

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Good lighting and ventilation are essential elements in creating a high quality healthcare environment that is comfortable at all times of year. Post-occupancy analysis has shown that daylighting and natural ventilation are also powerful tools in the reduction of carbon emissions, in addition to the benefits they provide in terms of patient comfort and wellbeing.

Buro Happold’s approach is to ‘design out’ active systems wherever possible in favour of passive environmental strategies. Using thermal modelling techniques we are able to analyse seasonal temperature variations and examine in detail what impact elements such as openable windows, glazing materials, shading systems and blinds can have on air flow, night cooling and lighting levels.

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Creating Optimal Healthcare Environments

Lighting and ventilation

CASE STUDY 1:

Built at the site of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, Evelina Children’s Hospital brings together the Trust’s paediatric functions under one roof. The design philosophy behind this landmark project was to create a bright, airy and cheerful environment that would aid recovery, while providing the client with an efficient and cost-effective healthcare building. Innovation and close consultation with staff and patients was key to delivering a hospital that is children-friendly and fun: patient care was firmly at the centre of the design process, with careful attention given to aspects such as materials, ambience, facilities and natural daylight.

A stunning four-storey atrium – or conservatory – forms the heart of the building and serves as a focal communal area for children to play and meet their families. Daylight is maximised through the fully glazed, steel curved roof that overlooks a park, bringing the view of sky and trees right into the building. Illuminated by light from the roof, the atrium provides not just a functional space but also a spacious healing environment to promote patient recovery. All the wards overlook the atrium and light reaches every hospital bed, so even bed-ridden patients are able to enjoy the view.

CASE STUDY 2:

Designed for the use of both civilian and military personnel, Aldershot Centre for Health is the UK’s largest Primary Healthcare Centre. Catering for around 2,700 patients a day, it provides an enhanced range of modern primary care facilities and outpatient services. Around 25 user groups are accommodated within the building, all with individual functional requirements for power, facilities, IT, security and future flexibility. The design team therefore had to take into account not just the logistics of shared space and services, but also the need to protect the privacy and dignity of patients.

The scale of the polyclinic made it necessary to focus on a sustainable and energy-efficient building services design that would create an appealing and comfortable environment for occupants. The requirements were developed in close collaboration with staff and future users, and as a result of this dialogue the 13,000m2 four-storey building was planned around a central atrium that allows natural light to filter through the heart of the building to the main waiting areas below. Glass block walls and open floor voids allow the light to filter through to the lowest level of the building. Buro Happold also carried out computer modelling to assess which of the internal areas – such as the GP consultation rooms – could be naturally ventilated.Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, UK

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Creating Optimal Healthcare Environments

AcousticsCreating Optimal Healthcare Environments

Infection control

Sound is a major factor in creating the right conditions for rest and recovery – a quiet environment reduces stress and is an important part of improving the quality of the patient ‘experience’. Controlling noise and vibration helps to maintain privacy and can even mean that patients need fewer drugs to sleep. Vibration levels can be a particular issue for laboratory environments, as they may affect the accuracy of sensitive equipment.

Our specialist acoustics team advises on core issues such as room acoustics, insulation, building fabric and facades, as well as the acoustic impact of low energy strategies such as thermal mass. Using advanced 3D computer modelling and auralisations to assess the acoustic environment within a ward or other clinical area – as well as external noise break-in – we are able to guide the design to help our clients meet the required acoustic performance targets.

Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) not only contribute to increased patient fatalities, they also cost the health service considerable sums of money that could otherwise be used to fund treatments or improve healthcare capability. The main costs attributable to HAI include increased length of patient stay – estimated at two and a half times longer than that for uninfected patients – and additional antibiotic therapy.

Research has shown a clear link between HAI incidence and hospital occupancy, cleanliness and ward layout: the evidence suggests that infection control can be improved through a combination of good design, better facilities management and improved clinical hygiene. Using a unique HAI risk assessment tool developed by Buro Happold, our team is able to assess the relative performance of alternative building designs with varying infection control risks.

This risk-based approach allows us to optimise the hospital environment, the provision of hand washing and sanitary facilities, segregation of high and low infection risk areas, ward surface finishes, ventilation and the control and management of clinical waste. Throughout the planning process we liaise closely with the hospital’s infection control team to establish the optimum solution that offers the best potential outcome for patients.

CASE STUDY 3:

Buro Happold has been part of the design and commissioning team for the state-of-the-art Nanoscience and Quantum Information (NS & QI) Laboratory at the University of Bristol. The building is home to an inter-disciplinary research community drawn from science, engineering and medicine, bringing together the best minds in the field of nanotechnology.

The city centre location of the state-of-the-art laboratory led to various challenges to ensure that the building was suitable for the highly sensitive equipment used inside. Novel techniques were required to isolate the laboratories from the local sources of vibration and acoustic noise, such as traffic, footfall and plant machinery. The scientific

laboratories have been designed to provide vibration and acoustic noise performance levels that are amongst the lowest achieved anywhere in the world.

Buro Happold’s vibration and acoustics specialists measured and assessed the performance of the labs under various conditions. We advised the university on ways in which the building could be made even quieter, using advanced numerical modelling techniques to test proposed enhancements and inform the design process. Detailed investigations were carried out into the possible effects on the labs when constructing new buildings in the immediate vicinity.

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Nanoscience and Quantum Information (NS & QI)

Laboratory at the University of Bristol, UK

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicting numerous

clumps of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria,

commonly referred to by the acronym, MRSA; Magnified 9560x.Results of a two-

dimensional Finite-

Element model, showing

a stress wave propagating

out from a sharp impact.

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CASE STUDY 5:

The opening of the Bluestone Mental Health Unit at Craigavon was hailed as a major step forward in the development and modernisation of the mental health service in Northern Ireland. Built on a greenfield site within the boundaries of the local hospital, this modern, low-energy building has 75 single en-suite rooms which benefit patient care and create a tranquil, safe, dignified and homely environment for recovery. From the outset the design concept was for a building that blended seamlessly with the landscape in order to exploit their combined therapeutic potential.

In mental health units it is vital to have an internal environment that is non-threatening, so the entire building is single storey and on an inviting domestic scale. As the structural and building services engineer, Buro Happold worked closely with the architect to help realise this vision. High glazed panels connect the interior and exterior spaces, providing views onto landscaped courtyards, and the unit is primarily naturally ventilated. Flexibility in the design ensures that bed capacity can be reduced in response to future changes, such as a shift towards community-based services.

The project won a prestigious Building Better Healthcare (BBH) award in 2008, coming first in the Best Mental Health Design category.

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Well-designed healthcare facilities have a clear positive impact on patient comfort and wellbeing, contributing to a better quality ‘patient journey’ as well as promoting efficient operation and performance. Above all, they must be able to meet the complex health needs of their local population and play a pivotal role in the wider community. Drawing on our extensive experience in the design and construction of a diverse range of specialist healthcare buildings, we are focused on providing the best outcomes for patients and staff in safe, sustainable and therapeutic environments.

Creating Optimal Healthcare Environments

Specialist care environments

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Bluestone Mental Health Unit, Craigavon, N Ireland, UK

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Robin House Children’s Hospice, Balloch, UKCASE STUDY 4:

Robin House in Balloch is a purpose-build children’s hospice which provides care and support for children with life limiting conditions and their families. To meet the unique challenges, Buro Happold’s design team created an aesthetically pleasing structure which blends naturally into its picturesque National Park setting. The elegant atrium ‘wave’ roof – consisting of four separate ribbons clad in plywood – appears to float above the timber facade, an illusion created by the use of supporting flat steel plates. Full height glazing provides an abundance of natural light and allows views over the surrounding countryside.

Natural ventilation has been adopted wherever possible in the hospice, with mechanical ventilation in the deep-plan central spaces and a displacement strategy used in the seminar room to maintain comfort and air quality conditions during peak occupancy. Underfloor heating has been used in many of the large ‘day’ spaces such as the central play area and the family, dining and entrance areas to create a warm, comfortable environment without the intrusion of radiators.

“I’m delighted that Bluestone has been recognised with a national design award. It’s a tremendous achievement and I’d like to congratulate everyone involved.”Colm Donaghy Chief Executive, Southern Health and Social Care Trust

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Healthcare facilities have complex security requirements and are faced with a range of risks and threats to its staff, patients and property – especially in ‘frontline’ departments such as A&E and maternity. To mitigate the security risks, our specialist security team delivers integrated solutions that can typically be tiered from entry to the site to personal safety measures. These include intrusion detection, access control, baby tagging, ward and external CCTV, swipe card and panic alarm systems. By working closely with the client and architect we are able to reduce reliance on purely technological solutions and promote safety and security in other, non-technical ways, such as providing clear way-finding for visitors or ensuring good sight lines from the nursing stations.

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Creating Optimal Healthcare Environments

Hospital security

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Aldershot Centre for Health, Aldershot Garrison, UK

CASE STUDY 7:

Opened in 2008, the Aldershot Centre for Health was conceived as a joint partnership between three local Primary Care Trusts and the town’s 5,000-strong Army garrison, who occupy a separate 28-bed in-patient facility within the building. The challenge for the design team was to deliver a fully functioning health centre while maintaining the required security segregation between the military, public and medical areas. Not only were there a diverse range of user groups to consider, but also the issue of ‘after hours’ access to specific areas of the building for community activities or by medical personnel – such as district nurses and ‘on call’ doctors – who have to access patient information on a 24-hr basis.

The stringent security partitioning requirements of the Army and the three Trusts required a novel approach to the system design. After thorough discussions with all parties, Buro Happold’s security specialists developed a strategy based on shared systems but on segregated infrastructures. The access control, CCTV and intrusion detection systems were integrated with a front end security management system that facilitated dual control rooms for the different stakeholders. To maintain security in restricted areas, a sophisticated door entry access system was devised using swipe cards to enter departmental ‘zones’ and then individual rooms. In this way operational needs were met despite the irregular usage patterns.

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Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, UK

CASE STUDY 6:

Security was identified as a key issue in the design of new ward facilities at Prince Charles Hospital, a district hospital serving the North Glamorgan area of Wales. After carrying out an initial review of the security measures and existing systems deployed within the hospital, Buro Happold’s security team proposed a scope of works that incorporated major mitigation solutions such as CCTV, intrusion detection, access control, locking systems, off-site communication and the provision of a control room. The whole technology platform was then integrated via a Security Management System to ensure it operated seamlessly, allowing staff to deal with security incidents in a more controlled way.

Before design commenced we benchmarked the existing and proposed solutions against those used on other NHS projects to ensure best value. Having a simple, integrated and easy to manage front end system reduced the need for security manpower and added value for the client in other ways: one of the innovations we introduced was a ‘baby tagging’ alarm system for the new maternity unit extension, used for ensuring babies and infants are not removed illicitly from the wards. The system was fully integrated into the access control and CCTV systems, with alarms to the local nurse station and main control room.

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“As a multi-disciplinary practice we can add value and expertise throughout the design and planning process, advising on the most economical solutions to achieve the best patient outcomes.”Simon BourkeGroup Director, Buro Happold

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Buro Happold is in a unique position to help healthcare providers face the future with confidence: our design solutions are easily constructed, environmentally responsible, efficient in their use of energy and deliver exceptional value throughout the project life cycle. Our aim is always to be innovative and responsive to client needs, identifying engineering challenges early on to minimise risk and future costs. In particular, we recognise that hospitals and clinics must be able to meet the demands of changing technology and new approaches to healthcare provision.

Speed of construction and flexibility are both key factors in modern healthcare design – the way hospitals are operated can change over time, so the building has to be able to adapt to change. To cater for new room layouts and equipment, flexibility is designed into wards and other areas from the outset, giving users more choice and reducing future building costs and service disruption. This flexible, value-added approach is also applied to the construction process itself through the use of fast-track methods such as off-site prefabrication.

Medical and scientific advances continue to re-define the nature and duration of hospital care,

as well as the size and layout of healthcare buildings. But with pressure increasing on public and

private funding in the next few years, the need to control construction and operational costs is vital

on every new development. Together with patient throughput and carbon management, getting

more value from capital investment has become one of the key issues now driving the sector.

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Adding ValueGetting more from your investment in the long term

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Lanchester Road Hospital,

Durham, UK

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Buro Happold is able to add value by designing healthcare facilities that are both adaptable to future changes of use while being cost-effective to build and maintain. Flexibility is essential to achieving long-term value and lower operating costs – tightly constrained layouts soon become obsolete and major remodelling can be highly disruptive in hospitals, as well as creating

additional cleanliness and infection control problems. To deliver economical and future-proof solutions we consider key aspects such as flexibility of space planning, accessible primary services distribution, the standardisation of structural elements, use of off-site prefabrication and the future planning of ICT connectivity.

CASE STUDY 9:

Following our initial appointment to deliver the masterplan for the redevelopment and reconfiguration of two hospital sites at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Buro Happold provided multi-disciplinary services for a new day surgery unit and a two-storey, 56-bed ward block at the St Peter’s site. The requirement was to deliver these buildings on a fast track programme, so the decision was taken to adopt modular construction as the preferred procurement option. Given the constraints of working in a confined site, it was also felt that this approach would have less impact on the hospital’s day-to-day operation.

Following tendering and design, the two buildings were manufactured off-site by modular specialist Yorkon, minimising disruption to hospital staff and patients and removing the need for decanting. The modular units were driven to the site, then bolted

together and installed over a series of weekends. Buro Happold completed the M&E fit-out and the building was then clad in brickwork and cedar boarding to create an attractive finish. The whole process from specification to admitting patients into the wards took just 12 months – an extremely quick timescale for an NHS project of this nature.

Earlier, Buro Happold had been commissioned by Welsh Health Estates to do an appraisal of volumetric (modular) construction in the health service. This involved lifecycle costing analysis and research into the pros and cons of modular design, giving us a clear insight into the issues involved that we were able to put to practical use on this project.

Adding Value

Flexible construction

“Moving much of the construction work off-site allowed us to expand the facilities at St Peter’s with as little disruption to the running of the hospital as possible.”Peter Curtis Capital Projects Manager, Ashfordand St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust

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St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, UK

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CASE STUDY 8:

The impressive new Stanley Primary Care Centre in County Durham has been designed to provide a wide range of healthcare services to the town’s population and the surrounding area in an appealing and well equipped environment. The structure has been constructed to allow total flexibility for future re-configuration of room layouts to suit the changing requirements of the healthcare Trust. A long span steelwork frame and a pre-cast concrete floor structure create generous column-free spaces, while lightweight demountable partitions form the internal walls. The ease of moving the walls, coupled with the lack of primary structure, has resulted in a building that is adaptable to changes of use as well as being fit for purpose.

Stanley PCC and Lanchester Road Hospital together form the Durham and Derwentside PFI project. Lanchester Road provides adult mental health and learning disability services and has been designed to provide a safe, pleasant and therapeutic environment for patients. As at Stanley, future flexibility has been achieved by adopting relatively simple structural systems that are cost-effective and efficient while enhancing the architectural concept. The majority of internal walls are non-load bearing, providing the option to remove certain walls without the need for costly – and disruptive – structural works at a later date.

Stanley Primary Care Centre, Stanley, UK

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CASE STUDY 10:

Combining a wide range of healthcare facilities in one state-of-the-art building, Aldershot Centre for Health is the UK’s largest example so far of the new multi-purpose polyclinic model. Situated between the town centre and the military garrison, the four-storey building is cut into the hillside creating a main entrance at first floor level, allowing visitors to navigate up or down just one level to find the right clinical department. The site is also heavily wooded, so a principal design concern was that the project objectives were delivered in a manner that avoids damage to the environment while being as sustainable and energy-efficient as possible.

High thermal insulation of the fabric means that the predicted energy consumption is below the government target of 55GJ/100m³/annum. The building was configured to maximise opportunities for passive design: a large atrium in the centre of the building allows daylight to flood the main waiting hall, while many of the clinical rooms on the upper floors are naturally ventilated. Where mechanical ventilation was required, the M&E design was optimised to ensure maximum efficiency: heat recovery is used on all systems, electric motors are high efficiency types, fan and pump motors are inverter driven and heating controls are weather compensated. Low energy lighting was used throughout, and a Building Management System is used to control local conditions.

Adding Value

Optimising performance

Drawing on a blend of experience and technical know-how, Buro Happold delivers fully integrated, safe, reliable and sustainable design solutions that satisfy the specified performance criteria while providing maximum value for money. To achieve a high level of occupant comfort – without a corresponding high energy usage – we analyse all aspects of a building’s design to ensure that the structure works in harmony with other elements in the design, from the building services and passive strategies to the facade materials and shading systems.

CASE STUDY 11:

Due to open in 2010, Pinderfields Hospital and Pontefract General Infirmary are two new state of the art hospitals that together comprise a £300 million PFI scheme to transform healthcare provision in the Wakefield region. The 84,500m2

700-bed Pinderfields Hospital will include 17 operating theatres, A&E and specialist units. Pontefract is mainly an outpatient facility, with A&E, diagnostics and short stay surgery. A sustainable approach to the construction has been taken from the outset, utilising methods such as off-site fabrication and re-using materials where possible in order to minimise waste and conserve natural resources.

The key objective in the environmental design of the two hospitals was to achieve the required

energy targets while meeting the patient comfort criteria set down in the HTMs. Rooms are naturally ventilated wherever possible to optimise the quality of the internal environment and improve performance, with a ‘mixed mode’ approach taken in areas that need to be ventilated or cooled for part of the day or year. Natural daylighting is combined with energy-efficient lighting and control systems to reduce electricity consumption. Buro Happold also carried out thermal modelling of the facade and building fabric to ensure there is less heat loss, and therefore less energy used up from heating systems.

Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, UK

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Aldershot Centre for Health, Aldershot Garrison, UK

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Adding Value

Fire safety

Fire safety in hospital projects is complex, with many stakeholders and vulnerable occupants to consider. The regulatory and client approval process is rigorous and the safe management, relocation and evacuation of patients in the event of a fire is a crucial element in healthcare design. Our fire engineering specialists work closely with the client, trust advisors, the design team and regulators to devise integrated fire strategies that meet – or exceed – the standards set down in the current NHS Firecode, which consists of a number of HTMs covering policy, technical guidance and specialist aspects of fire prevention. Because we are involved at an early stage in the planning process, we add value by evolving a design around the environments being created, thus increasing user flexibility, reducing management burdens and removing unnecessary fire protection measures.

Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, UK

Nuffield Hospital, Leeds, UK

Finite element analysis of

composite steel frame in fire.

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CASE STUDY 13:

The 11-storey 12,000m2 Leeds Nuffield Hospital was constructed to meet a demand for high quality operating theatre facilities in the city. With a high ratio of theatres to ward space, the design for these highly serviced areas involved the use of long span cellular beams with openings for service ducting. The relatively deep slab that was used to meet the client’s demand for strict vibration control also gave the building an inherently large fire resistance. In order to assess the secondary effects of fire on the frame and structure, detailed analysis was carried out using Buro Happold’s Vulcan finite element fire modelling tool.

The approach adopted by our fire engineering team accounted for the hospital’s relatively low fire load and high level of compartmentation. On a strict interpretation of the HTM, the building originally required 120 minutes of fire resistance, but our analysis was used – in combination with a risk assessment of possible impacts on the progressive horizontal evacuation and fire service access strategies – to justify an overall reduction to 60 minutes and the omission of fire protection from alternate beams. Due to this thorough testing and analysis, the client was able to make savings in fire protection costs and construction time while achieving the appropriate level of fire safety – as well as benefitting from having less material to manage on site.

CASE STUDY 12:

Buro Happold’s fire engineers worked closely with the Guy’s and St Thomas’s Trust fire safety manager and the design team to develop a building specific fire safety solution for the new 140-bed Evelina Children’s Hospital in central London. To ensure the safety of patients and staff during a fire emergency or evacuation, our main aim was to develop a package of passive and active fire protection measures which supported the Trust’s fire safety protocols. The passive measures – in the form of fire compartments – are designed to restrict fire spread and allow time to move patients to adjacent safe compartments. This ‘progressive’ evacuation strategy avoids the need to move a large number of patients around the building, thus making it easier for staff to manage the evacuation.

A particular fire engineering challenge was provided by the building’s distinctive atrium which spans all seven floors, opening up at the third floor to

form the ‘conservatory base’ which covers two thirds of the building’s footprint. Such large atria create a potential route for fire and smoke spread between fire compartments, so it was vital that the risk to life was minimised. To achieve the required fire performance, our innovative solution combines life safety sprinklers with the toughened glass, smoke sealed facade system. Integrity only fire resistant glass is used where glazing is installed to theatre and critical care spaces, and a smoke management system is installed in the atrium.

Demonstrating the value that fire engineering can bring to projects, capital savings in the region of £1 million were made on internal facade costs as a direct result of Buro Happold’s approach. In addition, the whole life costs are reduced as any facade maintenance does not require contractors with specialist knowledge of fire resisting systems.

The need for a highly capable and accessible ICT infrastructure is a vital part of modern healthcare facilities. Staff communications and building management systems are increasingly ICT based, together with patient records and a growing number of medical and diagnostic practices. Most importantly, giving patients easy access to communication and entertainment facilities via bed head services is seen as an important factor in improving health outcomes. With new information technology and services frequently introduced, intelligently designed ICT infrastructures provide the bridge to long-life buildings, enabling rapid take up of new solutions economically and without undue disruption to the building’s operation.

Our engineers implement advanced, future-ready ICT systems that maximise capacity while keeping costs under control. In the early stages of a project, our team works with the client to assess their various objectives and develop a robust ICT infrastructure that best suits the needs of occupants. Through early involvement at the design stage, we add whole life value to projects by ensuring that developments can support evolving communication requirements and meet sustainability demands. The key issues are to provide quality point of use services and ‘design in’ flexibility for future space remodelling or new technology innovations.

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY:

Wireless services form an integral and growing component of ICT estates. Buro Happold’s team have the expertise to deliver effective wireless capability, working holistically with the design team to ensure that new systems are successfully implemented and will go on working within the built environment.

The careful consideration of factors such as choice of materials and how the building will be used is important when making a project wireless.

SMART BUILDINGS:

Creating a ‘smart’ site involves joining together the various building systems – including security, lighting and environmental systems – to work as an integrated whole, intelligently and selectively linking with management applications such as timetabling and room booking. This requires collaboration with the client team to consider how they will operate with the overall design concept and the eventual users. These combined systems can then be operated using an integrated facilities management system, allowing for more effective operation and functionality, while lowering costs, not least by contributing to energy conservation.

If implemented correctly, creating a smart site can greatly reduce operating costs, as fewer operating staff will be required to manage the site day to day than with traditional disparate systems. Additionally, smart sites also reduce construction costs, as less cabling is needed during installation, reducing containment and construction. On refurbishment projects, costs can be mitigated by incorporating existing systems into a new smart solution.

Once a smart solution has been introduced, the post occupancy evaluations and tuning can be undertaken much more effectively, contributing to further savings and increasing a building’s flexibility of use.

Adding Value

ICT infrastructure

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CASE STUDY 14:

As part of the major redevelopment of Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, the old acute care and paediatric wards have been transformed into a new emergency unit with more space, improved layout and better facilities to raise patient care and reduce the risk of cross infection. The refurbishment of the existing 1960s building has included removing asbestos and addressing essential health and safety issues to meet modern healthcare standards. A rolling programme of works – both inside and out – involved decanting patients to temporary accommodation and then relocating them back into the refurbished wards once the work was finished.

As the project progressed, it was decided to construct a purpose-made facility adjacent to the maternity unit that would combine coronary care, acute medical and paediatrics under one roof. As well as the benefits of having paediatrics and maternity in close proximity, it also allowed heart attack victims to be admitted directly into the coronary unit without having to come all the way through the building from A&E. The enabling works for this included creating a new canopied entrance to the maternity block and re-locating the existing helipad, roads and car park. To ensure the power provision and electrical systems were resilient, we carried out a robust single point of failure analysis to ensure there was duplication all the way back along the electrical supply. “Materials, structures etc impact on the

wireless performance of a building, as does user density. The most important aspect of installing a successful ICT infrastructure is forward planning to identify these issues in advance. We lead holistic thinking to achieve this.”Chris Yates ICT Consultant, Buro Happold

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Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, UK

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Adding Value

Refurbishment

In a tough economic climate, hospitals need to satisfy growing demand for services while operating within strict spending limits. One clear value-for-money solution is to re-use the large stock of existing buildings which can be successfully upgraded to meet current standards for infection control, patient facilities and energy usage. Refurbishment is generally quicker and cheaper than new construction, offers a good return on capital outlay and is often more sustainable. Buildings can be reconfigured for changes of use or adapted to accommodate new technologies or heavy equipment such as MRI scanners.

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Many issues with new and refurbished buildings – for example, insufficient insulation, poor ventilation and inefficient control systems – cannot always be identified at the design and construction stage. Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is an effective method of assessing buildings and how they are functioning, while identifying ways to improve their design, performance and fitness for purpose. By using POE and our extensive knowledge of healthcare buildings, we are able to advise on issues such as reducing carbon emissions in line with increasingly tight benchmarks, and how to save money on operational costs.

POE provides the design team with valuable data which can be used to recommend the best value options for clients. By enabling us to quantify the sustainability of occupied buildings and advise on changes to practice or policy, POE becomes a vital tool for optimising the performance of both new and refurbished buildings. For this reason, investing in a POE can reap rewards many times over, not only by reducing energy costs but also by enhancing the quality and comfort of the learning or living space.

Using ‘Soft Landings’ – an approach that provides a service aimed at improving building performance from day one – our specialists engage at the earliest opportunity in a project to provide guidance on post

occupancy utilisation and assist the design teams in creating the vision behind the project in terms of functionality, usability, manageability, energy efficiency, environmental performance and occupant satisfaction. This is supported with post occupancy studies to inform the client and to allow fine tuning of the building to ensure optimum performance and user satisfaction. We are able to work with end users to educate them on how to get the best out of their buildings, working with the existing staff and developing their skills set to assist them in operating new control systems. Using advanced analysis techniques, our in-depth evaluations include desktop and thermal imaging studies, air-tightness testing and occupant comfort surveys.

Adding Value

Post occupancy evaluation

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CASE STUDY 16:

University College Falmouth’s 72-acre Tremough Campus is at the hub of the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project to extend higher education provision in the county.

Buro Happold was commissioned to carry out a post-occupancy energy audit to assess the electricity and gas usage of the new build element against a range of benchmark targets. After first establishing the benchmarks for the different types of building and floor area involved, investigations were carried out into the annual utility consumption and how it

is metered, including a walk-around energy audit to understand how spaces were used and serviced.

By evaluating the energy required for various end-uses, we were able to recommend a number of energy efficient measures to reduce consumption, such as introducing an energy management strategy and improving control of plant to tie in with user requirements at different times – for example, minimising the amount of air conditioning used in sparsely occupied zones during vacations.

Combined Universities in Cornwall, Falmouth, UK

Adding Value

Reducing energy costs

Design features that reduce the consumption of energy and water have both environmental and cost-saving benefits. Our engineers incorporate a range of solutions to help limit the amount of energy used within healthcare buildings and reduce reliance on active systems, from passive design methods such as natural lighting and ventilation to renewables and building control systems. The use of presence detectors alone – defaulting to ‘off’ when a room is empty – can cut the electricity used for lighting by as much as 50%.

Measures such as thermal mass to minimise temperature swings, external shading to reduce glare and overheating, openable windows to enhance air quality, insulation against heat loss, good daylight penetration and combined heat and power (CHP) systems all help to conserve resources, cut energy costs and improve occupant comfort.

“The Combined Heat and Power system at Napier provides a 20% saving in itself, so combined with other sustainable solutions, we are performing approximately 40–45% better than the current building regulations”Graeme Gidney Associate Director, Buro Happold

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CASE STUDY 15:

A key element to the design at the new Sighthill Campus at Napier University was the need to meet the requirements set by the Edinburgh Standard for Sustainable Buildings (ESSB), along with the client’s brief to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. The ESSB requires that all developments over 5,000m2 demonstrate sustainability and generate 10–20% of their energy through renewable or low carbon sources.

The Sighthill campus exceeds these requirements with a number of low energy solutions. The campus is served by an energy centre located on the perimeter of the site, which houses a heating plant incorporating a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The CHP serves the site wide district heating network and will achieve the savings required by the ESSB and BREEAM assessment.

In addition to the CHP system, the general teaching spaces incorporate a low energy cooling strategy with exposed concrete soffits, a night purge cooling regime, underfloor air supply delivery and high level passive cooling terminals.

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Meeting sustainability targets is now a key requirement in the design, construction and operation

of healthcare buildings, providing a quality framework for the entire design process. Representing

a long term investment in change, sustainable development offers the opportunity to use

resources more efficiently, improve energy performance, reduce running costs and create healthier

environments for patient care and recovery.

Buro Happold’s approach to sustainability follows a ‘lean, mean, green’ methodology, designing buildings from the outset to use less energy by utilising passive measures such as natural heating, lighting, ventilation and external shading, and then ensuring that both materials and systems are used responsibly and efficiently. Low and zero carbon (LZC) technologies are then applied to supplement the energy supplied from utilities.

We provide expert advice on how to achieve best practice in sustainable design, assessing a building’s environmental impact against a range of sustainability benchmarks, including energy consumption, transport, pollution and waste management. Our extensive knowledge of the sector allows us to achieve the required targets for carbon reduction wherever in the world the development is located.

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“With its high energy and facilities management demands, the healthcare sector has the opportunity to set an example by using resources more sparingly and sustainably.”Andy ParkerGlobal Sector Director, Buro Happold

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Sustainable DesignUsing resources more efficiently, saving money on energy costs

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ETFE foil roof at the Manor Hospital,

Oxford, UK

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CASE STUDY 18:

The energy target set by the Trust for the Stanley Primary Care Centre and Lanchester Road Hospital in County Durham was a tough 40GJ/100m3/annum, with a requirement for 10% renewable energy. Each project had different challenges: Stanley is a city centre site and at Lanchester Road there was a concern about the flicker effect of wind turbines affecting patients with mental health conditions. After exploring a range of renewable technologies, it was found that ground source heat pumps (GSHP) provided the most appropriate and effective solution for reducing carbon emissions.

At Stanley PCC, site investigations revealed that due to the ground conditions a larger area of GSHP boreholes was needed to extract the required amount of heat. However, the amount of space was very limited due to the site’s city centre location, and

phasing issues meant it wasn’t possible to take the pipes across the public highway into the car park opposite. The solution was to put the pumps in an internal courtyard where – thanks to close collaboration between our services and structures teams – the required number of loops were installed without disruption to the piling and construction programme.

GSHP and other sustainable measures such as natural ventilation and sedum roofing have resulted in very low carbon footprints being achieved at both sites. The low temperature heat energy from the ground energy pumps is used to supply an underfloor heating system, which is a safe and practical solution in mental health units and primary care centres as it avoids the need for exposed pipework and hot radiators.

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Sustainable Design

Meeting carbon targets

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CASE STUDY 17:

The Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM), which will spearhead the University of Edinburgh’s work in stem cell research, incorporates a number of renewable energy technologies that comply with the Edinburgh Standards for Sustainable Buildings (ESSB). In order to achieve a solution that is both energy efficient and cost effective, the office and administration spaces are kept separate from the laboratories, which use significantly more energy.

The office based areas are located at the perimeter of the building, allowing them to benefit from daylighting and natural ventilation. Dynamic energy modelling and computational fluid dynamics analysis was undertaken to ensure the optimal configuration of external shading, the provision of good daylighting levels, and the suitability of natural ventilation. Manual windows combined with underfloor fresh air and passive chilled beams provide a comfortable internal environment.

The areas of the facility where close control of the internal environment is needed, along with spaces requiring ‘black box’ conditions, are located at the heart of the building. The primary laboratory spaces are arranged to provide maximum future flexibility, with active chilled beams incorporated to provide the required cooling. The use of chilled beams, combined with ground source heating and cooling and photovoltaic array, has allowed the SCRM to achieve a 20% reduction in carbon emissions.

Early CFD modelling to demonstrate natural

ventilation in perimeter office space.

As substantial energy users, the healthcare sector needs to play its part in meeting national carbon reduction targets as part of the fight against climate change. Reducing carbon emissions has therefore become a key issue in the design, construction and management of new healthcare buildings. To achieve compliance, we help Trusts identify and implement sustainable strategies that minimise their carbon footprint and improve performance.

Energy efficiency has a direct influence on running costs: the NHS has an annual energy bill of over £500 million so there are considerable incentives to save money through more efficient use – savings that can be invested in infrastructure and patient services. With NHS buildings emitting 18 million tonnes of C02 annually, it is also an invaluable opportunity to enhance its reputation for environmental responsibility.

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Sustainable Design

Sustainable materials

BREEAM is the UK’s leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design, using a straightforward scoring system that is easy to understand and supported by evidence-based research. BREEAM’s equivalent in other regions includes LEED in North America. In 2008 BREEAM introduced a new methodology tailored specifically to the needs of the healthcare sector, allowing for the assessment of hospitals, GP surgeries, health centres and clinics. This replaces the NHS’s existing NEAT rating system and applies to all new-build and refurbishment projects.

Buro Happold has significant experience in managing, advising and assessing BREEAM and LEED, ensuring target levels are achieved in the most appropriate way, and guiding the client and design team throughout the process.

Through extensive research into sustainable construction, Buro Happold is able to utilise materials and techniques that help to create more appealing, healthy and environmentally friendly healthcare environments. We have in-depth experience of evaluating materials performance, advising on the best solutions for thermal efficiency and occupant comfort.

On all projects our materials specification is assessed against strict engineering sustainability criteria. We are able to provide clients with best practice advice on the use of materials from concept design and construction to re-use, recycling or demolition, considering issues such as waste management, energy efficiency, maintenance costs, service life and environmental impact.

The Manor Hospital, Oxford, UK

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CASE STUDY 20:

Located on the site of the old Manor Football Stadium in Oxford, the new 14,000m2 Nuffield Manor Hospital comprises a three-storey, 80-bed private hospital over a basement car park. To allow natural daylight to penetrate into the centre of the hospital – and provide an open area with a controlled environment – the building is structured around two atria which are covered with ETFE foil roofs supported on a lightweight steel frame. ETFE is a highly sustainable material that is one per cent of the weight of glass, transmits more light and costs up to 70% less to install. It is also very resilient, with the ability to bear 400 times its own weight, is recyclable and can span over 4m – more than double the typical span of glass panels.

The environmental strategy was integrated with the fire strategy by the incorporation of 1.5m vents around the perimeter of each atrium. The vents open fully to release smoke in the event of a fire, while thermal sensors can vary the openings to prevent heat build-ups. 3D computer modelling was carried out to provide a detailed picture of the airflow patterns and temperature profiles. The acoustic properties of the foil roofs also influence the ‘character’ of the internal space: being lightweight they give very little resistance to sound, which helps to reduce echo in the large atria space.

CASE STUDY 19:

Sustainability and a low carbon approach have been high on the agenda on the Pinderfields and Pontefract PFI hospital projects, with the Trust committed to achieving a challenging NEAT Excellent rating. The low energy target is less than 55GJ/100m³/annum, which includes large departments that are highly illuminated, mechanically ventilated and cooled to meet the clinical requirements. At the Pontefract site, a further challenge was provided by the proximity of busy roads, which meant that the acoustic criteria had a higher priority than natural ventilation because of its impact on patient comfort.

After carrying out the initial NEAT assessment, Buro Happold played a key role in assisting the Trust with the NEAT accreditation process and developing the environmental strategies in the two hospitals. The work undertaken by our computational analysis team on thermal modelling of key spaces and establishing design loads has been invaluable in understanding and delivering the energy targets. Predicting energy consumption was especially complex at the 700-bed Pinderfields hospital, which has a diverse range of facilities including operating theatres, in-patient wards, path labs, A&E, burns and maternity units.

Sustainable Design

BREEAM and LEED assessment

Pontefract Hospital, Wakefield, UK

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CASE STUDY 21:

Buro Happold has been involved in three major projects to redevelop the Chesterfield Royal Hospital site: the re-modelling of the Central Delivery Suite (CDS), the building of a new acute wards block and the refurbishment of the main entrance concourse to improve outpatient reception facilities. Work on the new concourse required the conversion of an internal courtyard to form part of the entrance and the construction of a steel and ETFE foil roof, whose lightweight nature meant that the amount of materials and strengthening works needed were kept to a minimum. On both this and the CDS project, the buildings had to be kept in operation throughout the phased construction, so health and safety considerations had a significant impact on the design.

To improve sustainability and achieve the client’s aspiration for a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, the new three-storey ward block includes renewable energy features such as solar panels on the roof as well as a very high level of insulation. The vibration and acoustic characteristics of the floors are a significant structural design issue on acute wards, which house often very ill patients and sensitive equipment. Buro Happold carried out a rigorous analysis of the proposed floor slabs to show that their performance was within acceptable limits.

Sustainable Design

Use of renewable energy sources

Growing environmental concerns and government policies are driving the increased use of low and zero carbon (LZC) energy sources. These mitigate the impact of buildings by reducing fossil fuel use, as well as adding value through energy security and whole life cost savings. Buro Happold is able to offer expert strategic advice on energy planning and policy, regulatory requirements, energy procurement and renewable energy options. We have in-depth experience gained on projects worldwide of implementing a broad range of innovative green solutions, including biomass heating, solar power, wind turbines, combined heat and power (CHP) systems and ground source heat pumps.

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Cynon Valley Primary Care Unit, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

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CASE STUDY 22:

Sustainability was a major factor in the design for the new 140-bed Cynon Valley Community Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. This low-rise 20,000m2 primary care facility provides in-patient, diagnostic, day care, radiology, minor surgery and maternity services, as well as mental health rehabilitation and emergency response teams. The project – which will be completed in 2012 – is regarded as a catalyst for the social regeneration of the area, providing a focus for community activity and long-term sustainable development.

The brief from the client was to utilise renewable technologies as much as possible, as long as they could be justified in terms of robustness and patient care, and fitted in with Welsh national NHS cost models. Following assessment of a number of options, including wind and solar

power, the design team agreed that biomass boilers would be the most effective renewable energy solution given the nature and location of the site – situated in a woodland setting, there will be a ready-made supply of timber fuel.

The building also makes full use of passive design, daylighting and natural ventilation to create a bright, comfortable and healing environment. Our recommendation to utilise exposed concrete soffits as a way of regulating summer and winter temperatures in the ward areas is a particularly innovative approach in a hospital. After carrying out detailed analysis and liaising closely with the Trust’s infection control and maintenance teams to allay concerns about cleaning and hygiene issues, Cynon Valley will now be one of the few hospitals in the UK to implement this solution.

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By working holistically and identifying any potential challenges in advance, our engineers are able to add value to all areas of the design and ensure that the experience of the healthcare environment is a positive one for patients, staff and visitors. Our aim is to go beyond legal compliance and help clients with responsibilities for estates and facilities to be better informed about effective practice in areas such as energy performance, flexible construction and carbon management.

When working with a Trust or a private healthcare provider we strive to make engineering more understandable to all the parties involved, sharing information and explaining how innovative approaches or technologies could work for them. With over 30 years’ of experience to draw on, we are able to provide valuable insights into how to create modern, flexible healthcare environments that are fit for the 21st century.

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Buro Happold has a wealth of specialist expertise in the design of healthcare buildings, adopting a

partnership approach with architects, clients and medical personnel to create the right conditions

for speedy patient care and recovery. We identify client aspirations early on in the design process –

by establishing the levels of performance and sustainability required of the structure and systems

we can advise on the most appropriate and economical procurement routes. Our close involvement

with the whole design team means we can incorporate high levels of buildability into our solutions.

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“Buro Happold offers a unique benefit to clients through its holistic and multi-disciplinary approach…by engaging with all parties we can provide the best solution to stakeholder requirements.”Andy KeelinGroup Director, Buro Happold

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Working in PartnershipDelivering projects in a spirit of collaboration and cooperation

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Building relationships through constructive engagement is central to Buro Happold’s approach – we always aim to present an integrated solution, engaging both across the disciplines and with the healthcare estate to create the best environments for quality patient care. In this way it is possible to challenge, debate and share information to achieve the right solution to meet the needs of architects, clients and stakeholders.

CASE STUDY 23:

The large number of stakeholders involved on the University of Sheffield’s AMRC project meant that it was vital to work to a clear delivery strategy to ensure that all of the different requirements were met. With 10% of the project budget set aside for sustainable technologies, the design team ran a design workshop with all of the stakeholders – around 80 people in total – to gain a clear understanding of their expectations. This allowed our engineers to incorporate the client’s aspirations and ideas into the building design at the beginning of the project, ensuring a successful result.

A similar approach was adopted on the Napier University Sighthill Campus project. If an engineering concern arose with the scheme, the design team would put together a design paper to identify the key issues and recommend solutions for the client. This helped the client to have a better understanding of each element of the project, and enabled the team to fully demonstrate our solutions before arriving at the final design.

CASE STUDY 24:

Forward thinking by Buro Happold’s design team enabled the award-winning Evelina Children’s Hospital project to be delivered on time and to budget. The team wanted to make sure that the finished building met the Trust’s brief for ‘a hospital that does not feel like a hospital’. Creating a bright and spacious environment that promoted patient care and recovery was therefore central to the design approach. The way we achieved this was by working as an integrated team that considered all aspects of the architecture, structure and building services at every stage of the design.

As the design advanced, our close liaison with the architect and contractor helped us to minimise risks and develop details that were robust and buildable. This cooperation was invaluable, for example, in understanding how the complex ‘diagrid’ atrium roof was to be constructed and how tolerances would be dealt with. Other challenging structural features included the scenic lifts and the large steel transfer truss that spans a 22m opening at ground level, supporting the weight of the seven-storey building. The opening was created to allow a 20-tonne fire engine to access the building from below.

Evelina won the poll of public opinion on the six buildings shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA Sterling Prize 2006 and an IStructE Award for best healthcare building.

Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, UK

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Working in Partnership

Working with stakeholders and clients

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“To have one of our projects receive such public appreciation is a recognition of our ability to make the architect’s vision a reality.”Mike Cook Director, Buro Happold

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Working in Partnership

Multi-disciplinary approach

Buro Happold’s integrated, multi-disciplinary teams are highly skilled in providing a wide variety of structural, building services, environmental and infrastructure engineering solutions tailored to individual clients’ needs. In addition to our core disciplines, we also provide a comprehensive range of specialist consultancy services, enabling us to further optimise and add value to the design process.

CASE STUDY 25:

Buro Happold’s structural, building services, infrastructure and asset management teams worked closely together to ensure that the Bluestone Mental Health Unit met the client’s brief for a sustainable building that would provide the best environment for patient care and comfort. From the start, extensive ground works were required to achieve a single-storey building on a sloping site. To minimise the amount of material imported to or removed from the site, we used an innovative ground improvement technique called ‘lime stabilisation’ which enables material from one part of the site to be re-used as fill in another.

Thermal modelling was undertaken to assess the performance of the internal spaces and guide the design process. As well as natural ventilation throughout, we adopted other energy-saving solutions including presence detectors in the bathrooms and daylight sensors in the bedrooms to control lighting levels and save electricity. To enhance water conservation, a harvesting system captures, stores and re-uses rainwater for WC flushing. Additionally, bike use is encouraged and the Unit is served by a bus route to reduce car usage. Thanks to all these measures the scheme achieved a coveted Excellent NEAT rating.

CASE STUDY 26:

To meet the required targets for energy efficiency and environmental quality at the 700-bed Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, Buro Happold has supported this major PFI project from the initial stages with a range of multi-disciplinary services including sustainability, thermal modelling, fire engineering and building services design. As part of the process to achieve an Excellent NEAT rating (NHS Environmental Assessment Tool), the whole team worked collectively to provide an effective integrated solution. Because a large part of the building services – such as the plant rooms and risers – were pre-fabricated off-site to reduce the amount of labour required and speed up installation, a high degree of design management

and co-ordination has been a key factor in reaching a successful outcome.

A major consideration was to keep the existing hospital operational while construction took place, which involved significant building clearance and enabling works. We liaised closely with the Trust to identify phases for the retention or diversion of services and utilities, resulting in better forward planning and less risk of delays to the main construction work. Buro Happold also provided building services consultancy for a new stand-alone pathology department adjacent to the hospital. The 2850m2 three-storey building provides laboratory facilities for the histology, cytology, haematology, biochemistry and microbiology departments.

Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, UK

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Bluestone Mental Health Unit, Craigavon, N Ireland, UK

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Project IndexDelivering innovative solutions with world class architects

FEATURED PROJECT CASE STUDY ARCHITECT

Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) 23 Bond BryanUniversity of Sheffield, UK

Aldershot Centre for Health 2, 7, 10 SR ArchitectsAldershot Garrison, UK

Bluestone Mental Health Unit 5, 25 David Morley Architects/Craigavon, N Ireland, UK Hall Black Douglas

Chesterfield Royal Hospital 21 The Manser PracticeChesterfield, UK

Combined Universities in Cornwall 16 Capita Percy ThomasFalmouth, UK

Cynon Valley Primary Care Unit 22 HLM ArchitectsMerthyr Tydfil, UK

Evelina Children’s Hospital 1, 12, 24 Michael Hopkins and PartnersLondon, UK

Lanchester Road Hospital 18 Baily GarnerLanchester, UK

Nanoscience and Quantum Information Laboratory 3 Capita ArchitectureUniversity of Bristol, UK

Nuffield Hospital 13 careyjonesLeeds, UK

Pinderfields Hospital 11, 19, 26 Building Design PartnershipWakefield, UK

Pontefract General Infirmary 11, 19 Avanti ArchitectsPontefract, UK

Prince Charles Hospital 6, 14 David Hutchinson PartnershipMerthyr Tydfil, UK

Robin House Children’s Hospice 4 Gareth Hoskins ArchitectsBalloch, UK

Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM) 17 Sheppard RobsonUniversity of Edinburgh, UK

Sighthill Campus, Napier University 15, 23 RMJM architectsEdinburgh, UK

Stanley Primary Care Centre 8, 18 Steffian Bradley ArchitectsStanley, Durham, UK

St Peter’s Hospital 9 Todd ArchitectsChertsey, UK

The Manor Hospital 20 Kendall Kingscott PartnershipOxford, UK

Our ServicesMulti-disciplinary

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Nanoscience and Quantum Information (NS & QI)

Laboratory at the University of Bristol, UK

Buro Happold delivers world-class engineering consultancy across a range of disciplines spanning buildings, infrastructure, environment, and project management. We combine creativity with solid technical skills and an awareness of the key drivers that shape projects in the scientific sector.

Buildings

Building FabricStructural engineering Facade engineering Generative geometry

Building EnvironmentsBuilding services engineering Internal environment modelling Specialist sustainability design Acoustics Specialist lighting Energy sources for buildings Post occupancy services

Building Planning and OperationsFire engineering Security Inclusive design Asset management Building controls and systems integration IT & communications Health and safety consulting People movement Audio visual and multimedia systems Vertical transportation

Environment and Infrastructure

EnvironmentAir quality Ecology EIA screening and scoping Impact assessment Noise Site appraisal Sustainability appraisal Waste planning and management Water resource management

InfrastructureBridges and civil engineering structures Civil infrastructure Energy and utilities infrastructure Geographic Information Systems Transportation planning River and coastal engineering

Ground EngineeringUnderground structures Foundations Ground treatments/reinforced earthworks Hydrology and engineering geology Contamination risk assessment, remediation and verification Site investigation Advanced ground numerical analysis and ground modelling

Consulting

Happold Consulting International (HCI) Happold Consulting UK (HCUK) Buro Happold management (BHm)

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Industry RecognitionRecent awards

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IStructE Awards

2009 Commendation: Award for Arts orEntertainment StructuresCurtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA

Commendation: Award for Arts orEntertainment StructuresCurtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA

Commendation: Award for Industrial orProcess StructuresAMRC, Sheffield, UK

2008 Winner: Young Structural EngineerMike Sefton, Buro Happold

Winner: Award for Education orHealthcare StructuresThomas Deacon Academy, Peterborough, UK

Winner: Award for Arts or Entertainment StructuresO2 Arena, London, UK

MEP Magazine Middle East Awards

2008 Winner: Middle East MEP Supreme Judges Award

Winner: Sustainable Project Design of the Year

Middle East Architect Awards

2008 Winner: Engineering Firm of the Year

RIBA Regional Awards

2009 Winner: London RegionSt Mary Magdalene Academy, UK

Winner: East MidlandsThe Minster School, Southwell, UK

2008 Winner: London RegionSackler Crossing, Kew Gardens, London, UK

Winner: East RegionThomas Deacon Academy, Peterborough, UK

Winner: North West RegionArena and Convention Centre, Liverpool, UK

Winner: North East RegionAlnwick Gardens, Northumberland, UK

Winner: Southern RegionNational Film and Television School, Beaconsfield, Bucks, UK

Winner: South West RegionNewlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall, UK

Winner: Wessex RegionBristol Brunel Academy, Bristol, UK

RIBA National Awards

2008 Winner: Sports and LeisureSackler Crossing, Kew Gardens, London, UK

Winner: Special AwardSackler Crossing, Kew Gardens, London, UK

Winner: 2008 Stephen Lawrence PrizeSackler Crossing, Kew Gardens, London, UK

Security Excellence Awards

2008 Winner: Best Security ConsultantHappold Safe & Secure Ltd

Scottish Design Awards

2009 Engineering DesignWinner: Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority HQ, UK

Commendation: The Swan Canopy Clydebank, UK

Sustainable DesignCommendation: The Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh School of Informatics, UK

Commendation: John Wheatley College, UK

South West Built Environment Awards

2008 Winner: Sustainability AwardBristol BSF, Bristol, UK

Winner: Value AwardThree Ways School, Bath, Somerset, UK

Winner: Project of the Year AwardThree Ways School, Bath, Somerset, UK

Structural Steel Design Award

2008 Winner: O2 Arena, London, UK

The Royal Academy of Engineering

2008 Winner: Silver MedalPaul Westbury, Buro Happold

ACE Engineering Excellence Awards

2009 Winner: Building Services (Large firm)Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority HQ, UK

Highly Commended: Building Structures(Large firm)The O2, Dublin, UK

Highly Commended: Infrastructure (Large firm)M8 Harthill Footbridge Replacement, UK

2008 Winner: Research, Studies & ConsultationMersey Tidal Study, Liverpool, UK

Commendation: Low Carbon TechnologyAdvanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Sheffield University, UK

American Institute of Architects Awards

2008 Winner: New York State Award of ExcellenceSheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parson’s the New School of Design, New York, NY, USA

Winner: New York State Building Type Award:Educational Facility Design Honor AwardSheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parson’s the New School of Design, New York, NY, USA

American Society of Landscape Architects

2008 National Honor Award in Analysis & PlanningOrange County Great Park Comprehensive Master Plan, Irvine, CA, USA

British Construction Industry Awards (BCIA)

2008 Winner: Local Authority Award Barking Learning Centre, Essex, UK

Bridge Design & Engineering - Footbridge Awards

2008 Highly-commended: Aesthetics Short Span CategorySackler Crossing, London, UK

British Council for Offices Awards

2009 Winnner: Corporate WorkplaceThe Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh School of Informatics, UK

Winnner: Projects over 2,000m2

Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority HQ, UK

Brownfield Briefing Awards

2009 Winners: Best Project Closure/Verification ProcessCoopers Walk, London, UK

Building Better Healthcare (BBH)

2008 Winners: Best Mental Health Design Craigavon Area Hospital, Glasgow, UK

Building Services Awards

2009 Highly Commended:Large Consultancy of the Year

Carbon Trust

2009 Low Carbon Building Award:Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority HQ, UK

Civic Trust Awards

2009 NightVision Award sponsored by the Civic TrustWinner: Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool, UK

Commended:National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield, UK

2008 Special Award for Access:The Roundhouse, London, UK

Commended:Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall, UK West London Academy, UK St Vincent Place, Edinburgh, UK North Wall Performing Arts Centre, Oxford, UK Hazelwood School, Glasgow, UK Leeds Discovery Centre, Leeds, UK

Green Apple Awards

2008 Winner: National Silver in Architectural HeritageIckworth House, Gazeley, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK

Gulf Building Awards

2008 Winner: Office/Commercial Project of the YearAbu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Abu Dhabi

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Structural Engineering Building Services / MEP EngineeringGround Engineering Infrastructure Engineering Specialist Consulting

www.burohappold.com

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Belfast Berlin

Birmingham Boston

Cairo Copenhagen

Dubai Edinburgh

Glasgow Hong Kong

Jeddah Kuwait Leeds

London Los Angeles Manchester

Moscow Munich

New York Pune

Riyadh Toronto Warsaw

Contact: Andy Parker, Global Sector Director Tel: +44 1225 322869Email: andy.parker@burohappold.com

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