HEALTHCARE

Introduction

Founded in 1879, making us one of the longest established architectural practices in the country, GSSArchitecture have developed into a national practice, with offices in Kettering, Harrogate, Gloucester, Milton Keynes and Newcastle.

We are Chartered Architects, Lead Consultants, Quantity Surveyors and Principal Designers, and can also provide an all-encompassing design team solution for our clients. We are a dynamic, forward thinking practice that delivers innovative solutions from initial concepts and masterplanning through to delivery and completion.

GSSArchitecture & Healthcare

Wide-ranging changes are underway to modernise the UK health service and NHS Trusts are facing fundamental changes to the procurement and delivery of healthcare. We recognise that in the changing environment of the NHS and the demographics of an ageing population, it will be necessary to be innovative in the way that healthcare is delivered. Trusts continue to focus on the delivery of high quality care whilst also targeting operating efficiencies and responding to budget pressures, which in many cases is leading to rationalisation of NHS estates. As well as working with Trusts and large organisations to deliver strategic healthcare & P21 projects over the past 20 years, at GSS we have also developed a pedigree and reputation for successfully delivering smaller scale, complex remodelling & estates rationalisation projects, particularly in live clinical environments. Our practice can offer substantial healthcare experience and support through our teams whose expertise and ability in all aspects of healthcare building is both current and relevant.

York Teaching Hospital

Scarborough & NE Yorkshire Healthcare

NHS Trust

NHS Trust

Hull & East Yorkshire HospitalsNHS Trust

Kettering General HospitalNHS Foundation Trust

Northampton General HospitalNHS Trust

Cambridgeshire Community ServicesNHS Trust

North BristolNHS Trust

Architectural Services

We offer a full Architectural Design service from the preparation of initial feasibility studies through to undertaking the role of Contract Administrator whilst works are on site.

This includes the preparation of outline and detailed planning applications, together with supporting applications for Listed Building Consent, etc, and developing designs through working drawings and specification preparation in order for tenders to be obtained.

We are not wedded to one architectural style, designing to each brief, whether this is to suit a vernacular, a function or a budget; every one of our designs is individually developed to the needs of a specific client.

Quantity Surveying

We are able to offer a Quantity Surveying service in addition to our Architectural service or as a stand-alone service, including offering the preparation of traditional Bills of Quantities.

Our surveyors are experienced in preparing indicative budget estimates on limited information at an early stage in the project process, and they are able to develop these estimates into detailed cost plans as the design evolves. We also work with our clients in preparing business plans to test the viability of a project at an early stage, whether this relates solely to the building or working with our clients on a holistic business case issue.

We also work proactively with clients in the development of Risk Registers, Value Management Strategies and Change Management Procedures.

Masterplanning

A well considered masterplan is the key to creating and maintaining a dynamic and inspiring campus environment which reinforces the client’s position in an ever-increasing competitive market. It also demonstrates an efficient use of the site and resources, providing a robust case for funding and planning.

GSS has significant experience in masterplanning for education, including universities. The critical first step in our role is acquiring an understanding of the existing environment, together with an in-depth awareness of the client’s needs and aspirations.

This has included how a new building or space integrates with an existing campus and infrastructure, through to the development of a whole new university campus masterplan.

Lead Consultant

Having in-house Project Managers, we are also able to fulfil the role of Lead Consultant.

With a strategic supply chain network in place, we can readily appoint and manage a full design team on behalf of any client, and have a significant successful track record of delivering buildings as a team.

Alternatively, we can lead and manage a team appointed direct by any client, establishing communication streams to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Heritage and Conservation Architect

We have a great deal of experience of repairing, conserving, altering and adding to historic buildings of varying ages, ranging from medieval to twentieth century and we are on the Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC).

Projects vary from schools, castles, churches, palaces, court houses and hospitals to private dwellings, and changes of use are often also involved. The works range from very minimal, in the form of repairs to parts of historic fabric, to multi million pound refurbishments and remodelling with significant modern interventions.

Discussion with the various conservation bodies is a key part of the process and we have experience of dealing with many different authorities. We start with feasibility options and finish on completion of the construction work.

Employer’s Agent

As Employer’s Agents, we work with our clients to ensure Contractor’s Proposals are developed in accordance with the Client’s Requirements.

Our Employer’s Agent service combines all of our Architectural, Lead Consultant and Quantity Surveying services to provide our clients with a full Design and Build Management service, including assistance with Housing Quality Indicators and various grant applications.

BIM Services

Our Approach to BIM

We believe that we have a central role to play in contributing to an industry-wide development of BIM, and to ensure that our clients are able to take full advantage of the potential benefits and efficiencies.

We began to implement our BIM strategy during 2010, and we now utilise Revit for draughting with Navisworks or Tekla for clash detection and detailed co-ordination. Where possible, we prefer to take on the role of ‘BIM Manager’ and we see this as part of our lead consultant duties. We aim to learn from, and contribute to, the wider industry adoption of BIM, and have delivered various lectures and seminars to clients and industry groups, as well as with our own supply chain.

We use BIM for every project within the practice, meaning you can rely on our experience to integrate the team and to achieve efficiencies by harnessing the benefits wherever possible. Our fully integrated BIM process can help to develop ‘hindsight before you hit site’, leading to improved design co-ordination and therefore reduced issues on site. For many of our clients, especially within the higher education sector, we believe that the full benefits of a co-ordinated BIM approach are only realised when the full project team are involved in this collaborative approach. This includes the client team, but we realise that this inevitably involves time and resource for clients to ‘gear up’ to maximise the benefits that BIM can bring. We therefore actively seek to work with our HE clients to help develop a common understanding of this new way of working, and have assisted a number of key HE Estates departments in developing a BIM ‘roadmap’ suited to them.

VR headset showing BIM 3D model Tekla clash detection

Phases of BIM integration

BIM Services

Pushing BIM Boundaries

At Hull University, the GSS team were delighted to be invited to work with HIVE (Hull Immersive Visualisation Environment) to investigate how the federated BIM model can be used to improve engagement and buy-in of the University’s facilities management teams during the design and construction process. It has quickly become clear that this could be a highly useful tool to engage with maintenance and FM teams, during design development, in order to move away from simply handing a building over on completion, which up until that point they have had little to no involvement in.

Our fully federated, level 2 BIM model was used as the basis of the virtual reality, which allows an individual or user to fully immerse themselves in, and navigate around, the proposed development using a simple games controller. Because the BIM model had been developed to a very detailed standard, the process of creating the virtual reality environment proved to be very efficient, taking only a couple of weeks to be fully developed.

The technology is developing fast, and the opportunities for improving and streamlining the consultation process are truly exciting. We are currently developing new apps for viewing the models with smartphones and iPads, all of which is now possible with a well-developed and fully co-ordinated BIM model.

Camera matching BIM model into photo Final composite image of model in situ

Internal CGI of student accommodation

BIM rendered cross section

BIM image highlighting M&E inclusion

Maternity Operating Theatre

Client: Scarborough General HospitalLocation: Scarborough, North YorkshireValue: £800,000

The operating theatre has been redesigned to replace an existing theatre first commissioned 30 years ago at Scarborough General Hospital.

Works included the replacement and upgrade of the ventilation system, which was coordinated through the use of a federated and fully detailed BIM model. Further close collaboration with the hospital was required to ensure the adjacent ward facilities remained operational throughout the works.

Client: York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation TrustLocation: Scarborough, North YorkshireValue: £300,000

Following the Department of Health’s release of funding to improve the birthing environments in over 100 hospitals, GSS have worked with York Teaching Hospital to support their bid.

The resulting scheme has created two dedicated birthing pool rooms and further pools in LDRP Rooms. This has significantly improved the patient experience by generating a calming, welcoming arrival for new mothers.

New Birthing Rooms and LDRP Provision

Renal Treatment Centre

Client: Private Medical Care ProviderLocation: Corby, NorthamptonshireValue: £5,000,000

This proposed development was to create a medical centre focusing on renal treatment programs, focusing on outpatient care treating members of the community around which the centre would be situated.

The use is a single storey unit adjacent to the existing building boundary and a two storey ‘double’ office unit in the centre of the site providing general office employment space. This provides a combined employment and healthcare facility within the core of the village close to the existing retail/leisure and with excellent pedestrian and public transport links.

Client: Kettering General HospitalLocation: Kettering, NorthamptonshireValue: £4,800,000

GSSArchitecture have an established working relationship with Kettering General Hospital and were appointed to design a new Cardiac Catheterisation Procedures Unit. The Cardiac Centre was needed to care for adult patients with heart problems and was strategically located at Kettering General Hospital to reduce the need for them to travel to specialist heart centres.

The new facilities were designed to include a fully equipped Catheterisation Lab, equipped with state- of-the-art imaging and monitoring equipment, and a Cardiac Procedures Room for undertaking cardio-versions, trans-oesophageal echocardiograms and fitting pacemakers. Associated facilities included pre-assessment/consultation rooms and an 8-bed recovery/admission area.The new facility was constructed above an existing single storey building which housed a Junior Doctors’ Mess and while the construction was carried out (including a new link bridge) the rest of the hospital site remained in operation.

GSS initially worked with the Trust to support them in producing their Outline Business Case and were subsequently appointed by Simons-Medicinq to deliver the project under the Procure 21 Framework arrangement.

Cardiac Catheterisation Procedures Unit

Mammography and Breast Care Clinic

Client: York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation TrustLocation: Scarborough, North YorkshireValue: £350,000

The Radiology Department at Scarborough Hospital provides a wide range of diagnostic imaging services, including CT Scanning, DEXA Bone Density Scanning, Mammography, MRI Scanning, Radioisotope Scanning, Ultrasound Scanning, and X-ray. The department provides both inpatient and outpatient services, with a total of around 110,000 patient attendances each year.

The department was in need of improved facilities to support the Mammography and Breast Care Clinic, and GSSArchitecture were appointed as Lead Consultant to design and administer the project. This included internal space remodelling and alterations to improve patient flows, patient dignity and overall level of service. In addition, a small single storey extension was built to provide much needed office accommodation for consultants and staff.

To enable the Radiology Department to continue functioning during the works, the project was split into five consecutive phases, with each phase screened from ongoing hospital operations. Upon completion, each phase was handed over to the hospital before the next phase commenced, and so on until final completion.

Client: Luton Borough CouncilLocation: Luton, BedfordshireValue: £4,500,000GSSArchitecture provided a full range of Architectural services for Cambridge Community Services NHS Trust and Luton Borough Council to centralise the location of child-focused clinical assessment treatment and update its nursery accommodation.

The Marsh Farm Children’s Centre forms part of a larger community building and acts as a ‘community hub’ where children under five years of age and their families can access help and support from teams of professionals, including managing children’s behaviour, parenting skills, supporting children with additional needs, ante and post-natal support, healthy living, play and learning.

The paediatric assessment facilities include consultation and assessment rooms and a snoozeleum. As traumatised children might be visiting the centre for the first time, the healthcare ‘wing’ of the building features a green wall externally and large expanses of calming pastel-like colours internally.

“Families have me told how impressed they are with the new facilities. It’s great to see this bright, new and welcoming centre in action. The centre is having a significant positive impact on the local community and all involved should be proud of what they have achieved.” Tahir Khan, Local councillor.

Marsh Farm Children’s Centre, Paediatric Assessment

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation Centre

Client: Moulton CollegeLocation: Moulton, NorthamptonshireValue: £6,500,000

The new Sports Injury and Rehabilitation Centre is a regional Centre of Excellence for Sports which includes specialist teaching facilities, a referral clinic to provide students with clinical experience and a 25m swimming pool. The building is formed of two wings, to create an ‘L’ shaped building, enveloping the swimming pool to the rear.

The teaching areas include therapy suites, a biomechanics analysis laboratory, and changing facilities for the pool and adjacent sports pitches. The clinic includes changing areas, consultation, rehabilitation, physio and specialist therapy rooms, including hydro and water therapy, hyperbaric and thermal chambers and cryotherapy treatment areas.

The 25m pool has a moveable floor and is to be used for teaching purposes for the 500 full-time sports students currently on site and for recreational purposes by the wider student body and staff. This facility will be available for hire by schools, clubs and organisations when not being used by the specialists and College.

The total area of the new facility is 2803m².

Client: Yardlington Housing GroupLocation: Chard, SomersetValue: £6,000,000

The development consists of 62 specifically designed semi-sheltered one and two bedroom apartments for the above 55 age group. The building was designed to become a flagship development for Yarlington Housing Group, providing a modern and sympathetic design on a former brownfield site, kick-starting the regeneration of the area.

The design and delivery of the project involved extensive consultation with residents, the Local Authority, YHG and the end users. The £6m project was delivered on time and below budget through a partnering contract.

Bradfield Way Sheltered Housing

35 HEADLANDSKETTERINGNORTHAMPTONSHIRENN15 7EST: 01536 513 165

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NORTH WAREHOUSEGLOUCESTER DOCKSGLOUCESTERGL1 2EPT: 01452 525 019

STUDIO B/2314 WITAN GATE WESTCENTRAL MILTON KEYNESMK9 1EJT: 01908 010 030

HOULTS YARDWALKER ROADNEWCASTLENE6 2HLT: 0191 389 8917

E: GSS@GOTCH.CO.UKGSSARCHITECTURE.COM@GSSARCHITECTURE

HEALTHCARE