Efficient Design with Uncompromising Excellence
The BMJ designed St Thomas Critical Care Unit is located on Level 6 of the East Wing. The Unit creates 11 new critical care beds and ancillary clinical accommodation from former administration offices. The original ‘T’ shaped 1966 tower building had been over-clad and two triangular atria added in 2015 with office support for the unit including staff rest, offices and seminar spaces located in an adjacent building.
Concept and Strategy
The project involved the careful conversion of space within the original 1966 tower building. The existing T-shaped floorplate created significant planning constraints and could not accommodate an ideal racetrack configuration with bedrooms clustered around staff bases. It also presented challenges in providing the ancillary accommodation and equipment storage required for a modern Critical Care Unit.
BMJ worked to comply, as far as possible, with HBN 04-02, Department of Health guidance and current space standards for critical care, particularly around patient bed spaces. The existing 1960s ribbed concrete floor structure also required strengthening to support new equipment.
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