The Northumbria Health and Care Academy – on the site of the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, is the UK’s first healthcare building to achieve Gold WELL Certification from the International WELL Building Institute.
The WELL Building Standard considers both design and operational excellence, focusing on 10 key concepts that enhance health and wellbeing. Receiving this certification evidences the Academy’s commitment to supporting wellbeing through the design and construction process through to its usage. Commissioned by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Assura plc, the Northumbria Health and Care Academy is a centre of training excellence for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals.
The £32 million facility was designed by P+HS Architects and constructed by Meldrum Group, while Hilson Moran acted as WELL Accredited Professionals on the project. They worked with the project team at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, which is also involved in the building’s ongoing management.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust says that since its opening last June, over 3,000 students and staff have benefited from a space ‘which has wellbeing at its core’ – from the availability of healthy food choices, to a nature walking trail on site.
Emma Dawes, the Trust’s head of Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health Professional Education and Workforce Development, said: “The Academy is part of a commitment by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to develop its staff and grow its own workforce for the future – and embedding wellbeing is a critical part of this. We’ve had really positive feedback on the facility since it opened, but to be the first healthcare building in the UK to receive Gold WELL Certification really highlights the impact we’ve made.”
The Academy incorporates ‘a range of bespoke facilities’ – from classrooms to clinical practice areas, which use the latest immersive teaching technology. It also houses a GP practice on the ground floor. NPC Northumbria Way is part of Northumbria Primary Care, a not-for-profit, at-scale provider of primary care services in Northumberland and North Tyneside.
Sharon Cook, Healthcare lead and Project designer from P+HS Architects, said: “Making sure the Academy met the needs of those who would be using it was a key priority for us during this project and we collaborated closely with end-users to design a space that truly supports their health and wellbeing. Guided by the principles of WELL, we incorporated features such as a calming, nature-inspired interior palette, expansive floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise natural light, and communal outdoor garden spaces to promote health and restoration. This certification underscores the meaningful impact this award-winning facility will have on both the workforce and patients.”
