Designing One of the UK’s Largest Critical Care Facilities
BMJ Architects played a key role in the development of the King’s College Critical Care Centre at Denmark Hill, creating a specialist healthcare environment designed to support some of the most critically ill patients in the UK. The project supports King’s College Hospital’s ambition to provide world-class critical care facilities, bringing advanced clinical infrastructure, specialist treatment spaces and patient-centred design together within a single integrated development.
Supporting Changing Models of Healthcare Delivery
The new facility was designed to meet growing demand for critical care services while supporting changing models of healthcare delivery. Working closely with clinicians, estates teams and project stakeholders, BMJ helped develop an environment that balances the complex technical requirements of critical care with the needs of patients, families and staff.
The building provides a wide range of specialist accommodation including critical care bed spaces, treatment and support facilities, clinical workspaces, staff accommodation and family support areas. Careful planning of clinical adjacencies supports efficient patient journeys and staff workflows, helping the centre function effectively in a highly demanding healthcare setting.
Concept and Strategy
People were at the heart of the design process. Natural light, clear wayfinding, and carefully planned staff and family areas help create a more supportive environment within what can often be an intense and highly technical clinical setting. The development also includes access to a dedicated critical care roof garden, referenced separately on its own project page, as part of the wider commitment to wellbeing and recovery.
Flexibility and long-term resilience were key project drivers. The building was designed to accommodate evolving clinical practices, advances in healthcare technology, and future service requirements. Durable materials, adaptable planning principles, and a focus on operational efficiency provide a future-ready platform for critical care services at King’s College Hospital.
The project demonstrates how carefully planned healthcare architecture can improve clinical performance while supporting the human experience of care. By bringing technical infrastructure, patient safety, and staff wellbeing together, the Critical Care Centre provides lasting value for the hospital and the communities it serves.
In the final phase of the King’s College Critical Care Centre, BMJ Architects acted as lead consultant for the UK’s first patient-accessible critical care roof garden. Located above the hospital’s main operating theatres, the development forms part of the largest critical care facility of its kind in the UK.
“The collaboration and innovation shown throughout the project demonstrate how creative thinking can lead to real-world solutions that directly improve people’s lives.”
Director, BlueLight Management
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