The £311m Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals Development Project reached financial close on 2 July enabling the construction of new hospitals at Wakefield and Pontefract.
Consort Healthcare, the PPP/PFI healthcare vehicle for Balfour Beatty, became preferred bidder in November 2004 with BDP’s inter-disciplinary team, working in conjunction with Avanti Architects, to design the two sites.
BDP, as lead architect, interior designer and landscape architect, is responsible for the design of the new 86,000m² acute hospital on the Pinderfields site on the edge of Wakefield. Avanti are architects for the 21,000m² diagnostic and treatment centre at Pontefract.
Tim Wilkins, BDP project director, said: “Consolidating acute services at Wakefield and creating a community hospital at Pontefract will transform healthcare in the area. The Trust’s vision inspired us to design hospitals that relate to their environment whilst delivering clinical efficiency within an inspirational and humane setting.’
The new hospitals are designed around the needs of patients, staff and visitors. Pinderfields (pictured) is conceived as two parallel wings, one acute, one inpatient, linked by a public atrium. Pontefract is conceived as a low-level outpatient building wrapped by a higher acute wing with views toward the town centre. Generous courtyards and shallow plan depths mean occupied rooms have daylight and views on both sites.
At Pinderfields the 708 bed new-build acute hospital will consist of inpatient wards, women’s and children’s facilities, a rehabilitation institute, full acute services and a diagnostic and treatment centre. Pontefract will provide 66 beds, A&E, inpatient rehabilitation and maternity services along with an outpatient-based diagnostic and treatment centre.
The project will be built by a construction joint venture comprising Balfour Beatty and Haden Young. Construction commenced prior to financial close in April 2007 and it is expected that the new Pontefract Hospital will open in 2009 and Pinderfields Hospital in 2010.
Other members of the design team include C&S engineers White Young Green; M&E engineers Buro Happold, fire consultants Arup and acoustic engineers SRL.
