New Velindre Cancer Centre named winner in the EHD Awards

The new Velindre Cancer Centre won the Future Healthcare Design category in the European Healthcare Design (EHD) Awards.

The EHD Awards are one of the most prestigious international architecture awards in healthcare architecture and recognise professional and research excellence in the design of healthcare environments around the world.

The winners of the EHD Awards were announced at the EHD Congress in London. The awards recognise healthcare environments that promote health and wellness, embed quality improvement and support the delivery of treatment and care in an accessible, sustainable and equitable way.

“Together with the NHS and our partners we want to create a healthcare environment for the future that supports the mental and physical wellbeing of both patients and families, while also offering a state-of-the-art workplace for staff,” says Michael Woodford, Director London Studio, White Arkitekter.

The new Velindre Cancer Centre is being developed by The ACORN consortium with White Arkitekter as Lead Designer. With high sustainability goals, the building is designed to maximise the use of local natural materials with low carbon footprints that promote health and well-being. The use of materials such as wood, and lime and clay plasters that are breathable and flexible create a natural and calming environment for patients, families and staff.

“The new Velindre Cancer Centre represents a major step forward for healthcare design in the UK,” continued Michael Wooford.

“With a focus on low carbon materials combined with the aim of preserving the surrounding landscape as wild as possible, we are designing a healthcare facility where the environment supports and complements the medical treatment of patients.”

The new Velindre Cancer Centre will be carefully integrated into the Welsh landscape with respect for flora, fauna and ecology. At the same time, new spaces in the landscape such as the orchard and community kitchen garden are planned to support healthy habits. By designing informal playgrounds and a variety of walking, cycling and relaxation areas, play and movement in nature is encouraged.

The Acorn consortium for the new Velindre Cancer Centre was appointed following a public procurement process run by Velindre University NHS Trust, and includes Kajima Partnerships, Sacyr, Abrdn, Andrew Scott, Kier Facilities Services, White Arkitekter, MJ Medical, Turley, Studio Response, Camlins Landscape Architects, Osborne Clarke, Operis, Confab Lab, Hydrock, Socotec and Ingho FM.