Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care

The existing NICU has been refurbished with facilities for both staff and parents. The single-storey new-build element of the design serves as a discreet intervention between the two existing buildings. It accommodates clinical, support and reception functions.

Central spaces are day-lit by two long, angled roof-lights. The inclusion of reflective internal surfaces in the design allows the light to penetrate into adjacent spaces. Within the care areas light is carefully controlled through the use of high, narrow windows, to afford babies an awareness of day and night as they develop.

With sustainability in mind the building uses an external wall insulation system. Sections consist of cross-laminated timber with thermowall wood fibreboard, ultratherm insulation, and Parlex rainscreen cladding.

Internally, exposed timber is used to avoid a clinical appearance, this is sustainably beneficial as embodied energy is low, and construction is quick and clean within a hospital environment.