Catalyst Healthcare, the PFI consortium managing the Manchester New Hospitals Development, has specified Armitage Shanks’ modern mixer taps and specially designed toilets for the new £500 m healthcare complex.
Set to open this Summer, the facilities will include a new children’s hospital, a women’s hospital, and adult and eye hospitals. Armitage Shanks will supply around 1,500 taps, including Markwik S827AA thermostatic sequential mixer taps (pictured). “We worked closely with Armitage Shanks on a previous project to develop this design, which is better suited to healthcare requirements,” explained Mark Buckle, technical director at Bovis Lend Lease, the PFI consortium’s construction arm. “The Markwik replaces the typical swan neck mixers, which have a vertical section that does not drain down water, and creates a potential reservoir for bacterial growth.” Over 1,000 water-saving Contour 21 rimless WC pans have also been specified. The rimless design reportedly eliminates a potential bacteria “hot spot”, and requires just 4.5 litres of water to flush, while the extended projection and 46 cm pan height are “better for disabled and wheelchair users”. Armitage Shanks is also providing Contour 21 basin backs, Portman 21 basins, and Contour 21 long lever mono mixers, for the project.
