NHS Dumfries and Galloway were presented with a prestigious Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) award for the world-class sustainability credentials of the Midpark Hospital acute mental health inpatient facility.
Midpark Mental Health Facility, Dumfries
The facility, which opened in 2012, replaced the accommodation previously provided by Crichton Royal Hospital, was rated as the best performing healthcare building at BREEAM’s 25th annual awards. It provides six wards and 85 beds in a modern, stable and secure environment for patients requiring specialist care and was one of 11 buildings from across sectors to receive an award for its social, environmental or economic credentials – from a shortlist of 50 buildings across Europe.
Midpark Hospital’s BREEAM assessment also placed it in the top 1% of NHS Scotland properties for energy performance, receiving an Energy Performance Certificate ‘A’ rating.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Chief Executive Jeff Ace was presented with the award in front of the hospital last week by the team who designed and built the facility: construction partner Laing O’Rourke, engineering consultancy Arup and architects ArchialNORR.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Chief Executive Jeff Ace said,
“We are delighted that Midpark Hospital has been recognised for its excellent environmental credentials. We are looking forward to working with Laing O’Rourke as our construction partners as part of the High Wood Health consortium, which is building the new district general hospital.”
Steve Irvine, Laing O’Rourke operations leader added,
“We are delighted to be presenting NHS Dumfries and Galloway with this award. The collaborative efforts of our client, designers and delivery team have balanced a safe, healing environment with highly efficient energy performance – making Midpark Hospital one of the best performing healthcare buildings in the country.”
Wayne Butler, director at Arup commented,
“Midpark Hospital was a real team effort by the client, the designers and the construction team and we are delighted that the hard work and commitment has been recognised with this award.”
Innovative features of the hospital include:
• unique anti-ligature windows created especially for this facility, minimising the risk of harm for patients while maximising natural light; allowing all patient areas to be naturally ventilated, and including wind catchers for internal areas to reduce carbon emissions
• low water-use appliances and energy and water sub-metering
• an energy system fuelled by biomass for heating and domestic hot water production
Calum MacCalman, Director at ArchialNORR asserted,
“Everyone at ArchialNORR is delighted to have played our part as architects on such a successful project. Having previously won the Health Facilities Scotland Design Award in 2012, winning the 2015 BEEAM Award is further testimony to the excellent collaborative team work by all parties involved in this genuinely interesting project.”
