Description:

Located in the town of Coxheath in Kent this new build surgery replaces existing and outdated premises which were spread across different sites. Delivering 1340m² of clinical floor area over two stories the new building provides 8 Treatment rooms, 13 Consulting Examination rooms with associated clinical support rooms and administrative areas.

Instructed from RIBA Stage 3, Deacon and Richardson were commissioned to deliver a scheme by others that had been previously been granted planning permission. Unfortunately the approved design had several shortcomings as a Healthcare facility. Using our experience in Primary Healthcare design we were able to rework the buildings internal layouts. After some planning amendments we were able to deliver a proposal which was fit for purpose and met the aspirations of the end users.

Photo Credit: Richard Chivers

A bright and welcoming double height entrance area leads to the waiting areas and in-house cafe. This provides a new space for community food education. The Ground and First waiting areas have a generous glazed aspect towards open countryside benefiting the patient waiting experience.

Wayfinding was an important part of the design brief. A zoned colour scheme was delivered through the use of signage and coloured feature walls to clinical areas.

As a mandatory requirement for an NHS funded building the scheme achieves BREEAM Excellent. This was achieved by scoring highly in energy efficiency and the management process of the build. High levels of insulation and air tightness were specified with the building and it is predominantly heated and cooled from Air Source Heat Pumps.