AECOM, with partners Penoyre & Prasad and White Arkitekter, has won the RIBA design competition to deliver a new joint facility for Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
An AECOM-led team has been appointed by Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity to deliver Oriel, a new joint facility at St Pancras Hospital in London. AECOM and its partners Penoyre & Prasad and White Arkitekter will deliver all architectural design and related services for the project, which will bring together clinical care, research and education expertise for the first time in one flexible, fully integrated building. It is proposed that all services provided at Moorfields Eye Hospital on City Road and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology on Bath Street will relocate to the new facility.
AECOM / Penoyre & Prasad / White Arkitekter
The AECOM team was appointed following a RIBA-led (Royal Institute of British Architects) design competition for a flexible and modern building focused on patients and attracting and retaining the best ophthalmic scientists, educators and clinicians. AECOM, Penoyre & Prasad and White Arkitekter have been working on their preliminary design proposal since being shortlisted for the competition in September 2018.
Focused on maximising collaboration and knowledge exchange, the flexible and adaptive design includes an ‘oriel’ at its centre, intended to be the social heart of the building and enabling greater interaction between patients, clinicians and researchers. It is inspired by the Moorfield Eye Hospital crest ‘Fiat Lux’ (Let there be Light). With an interior infused with natural light, the proposal plays homage to modern and light-filled Scandinavian design principles.
Global infrastructure services firm AECOM will lead the team, acting as lead designer and also providing civil, structural and building services engineering, as well as other specialist consultancy services. Award-winning architectural practice Penoyre & Prasad will be the lead architect, setting the overall design strategy and the architectural vision for the building. White Arkitekter will be responsible for designing the interiors and external landscapes including the ambience and lighting of all public spaces, contributing knowledge from its practice based research into healthcare environments.
AECOM / Penoyre & Prasad / White Arkitekter
David Probert, Chief Executive of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “It was a privilege to be on the evaluation panel of the five shortlisted design teams for Oriel. The quality of all entries was extremely high.
“AECOM’s award-winning team was selected due to its exemplary innovation and creativity, outstanding design quality, and previous experience in delivering health, research and education facilities across the UK.
“It has been a huge few months for this innovative and exciting project, with Moorfields recently securing a substantial amount of funding from the Department of Health and Social Care.
“I look forward to working with AECOM, Penoyre & Prasad and White Arkitekter as this project progresses.”
Dale Sinclair, Director of Technical Practice – Europe, Middle East and Africa, AECOM, said: “AECOM brings extensive experience in the delivery of advanced research, healthcare and education facilities across the world to this prestigious commission. Our interdisciplinary team is enhanced by acclaimed practice Penoyre & Prasad, which has a reputation for designing world-class healthcare and education buildings. White Arkitekter completes our team, adding Scandinavian design to the interior and landscape environments. Together, we are committed to delivering a facility that will be at the forefront of eye care, research and education.”
The AECOM-led team will start work immediately, working with the joint partners to progress their design for the new facility.
AECOM / Penoyre & Prasad / White Arkitekter
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