Barbara Weiss Architects (BWA) has completed the extensive refurbishment, extension,and change of use, of a redundant 1990s office block into the new Wokingham Medical Centre.
The 1,600 m2 NHS building provides facilities for up to 16 GPs and five nurses, along with a new pharmacy and flexible medical suite. Relocated from two separate sites, the practice now occupies a site in Wokingham’s town centre.
The brief was ‘simply to accommodate a large number of patients (the centre will serve a catchment area of up to 32,000) and GPs within a calm, non-institutionalised environment’. BWA substantially extended the existing building, adding a penthouse conference room on the roof. Design features include bespoke joinery used to create ‘an intimate suite of consulting areas throughout the building’, and ‘clinical’ examination areas at the rear. ‘Intelligent glass’ on the front elevation at first and second floors provides ‘touch-of-a-button privacy’ to the consulting rooms behind.
Wokingham’s ‘building styles’ range from 14th century timber-framed buildings in Rose Street, to 1990s red brick office blocks; BWA thus sought to design the Centre using materials and an appearance appropriate to its context, and its use as a modern public medical facility.
Following a complete strip-out of the existing building, the space was remodelled to provide additional floorspace for new services and clinics, and additional consulting and treatment rooms. Completed in just a year by main contractor, Beard, the new building also needed to allow co-location of a pharmacy, physiotherapy, and other services, while comfortably catering for a sizeable rise in patient numbers.
The main, ground floor entrance sits within a large canopy with curved ends that mirrors the existing curved stair tower; this floor also houses the reception, administrative, and waiting areas; nurse and treatment rooms; and the pharmacy. Extensive rooflights allow natural light into all rooms on the second floor, which houses consulting rooms, waiting areas, nurse and treatment rooms, a large staff common room, and offices.
Along with successful alterations to the existing built fabric, BWA designed a new third floor extension to accommodate a pavilion, housing a meeting and conference space.
Externally, the new extensions are rendered with ‘simply proportioned’ window openings.
Window frames are aluminium, apart from the glazed screen in the entrance elevation, which is framed in deep oak mullions and transoms to provide warmth, and a degree of privacy from upward views. The upper levels, above the entrance, are enclosed with a bespoke curtain wall system, constructed of oak and ‘intelligent glass’.
Where the existing façade and built fabric remains, it has been given a ‘fresh face’ to
conceal the original architecture.
