Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH)
The new Stanmore Building, at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, Middlesex, combines the latest health technology with architectural design and contemporary art to create colourful and welcoming spaces for patients and staff.
Built by Balfour Beatty and designed by architect BDP, the four storey building opened in December 2018, and replaces a number of ward buildings dating back to the Second World War. It includes a children’s/young people’s ward, two adult acute wards and a private ward.
There are also play areas, with a children’s activity centre at the heart of the 15m high reception and waiting atrium. This features contemporary art and sculptures to create a spectacular entrance matching the state-of-the-art medical facilities.
Art is used throughout the new building, with poems taken from Robert McFarlane’s ‘The Lost Words’, and illustrations of flowers, birds, fish and animals by Jackie Morris, adorning the corridors. There are also images from the natural world behind the beds on each of the colour-themed floors.
The positive effects of colour and art on patient wellbeing have been known for some time. Art diverts attention away from pain and stress, may lower blood pressure and may reduce the need for pain relief. Evidence suggests the sense of being outdoors also improves recovery times, while colourful murals help reduce the stress of being in an unfamiliar environment, particularly among children.
As well as providing a visually-appealing environment, surface finishes in healthcare facilities also need to be hard-wearing, hygienic, easy-to-clean and maintain. BDP specified Acrovyn by Design to incorporate behind all 94 beds in the building.
Acrovyn by Design embeds high-resolution digital prints on the reverse of clear, Acrovyn PVC-Free sheets. The sheet acts as a protective shield to the image and provides an impact- and scratch-resistant surface that is impervious and chemically-resistant, without compromising on interior design.
The images reflect the theme of nature used in the corridors and the colour of each floor. White and green predominate on level 2, blue and green on level 3, and purple on level 4. The images used on the children’s ward are fun and brightly-coloured silhouettes of children playing outside.
Vertical pairs of Acrovyn BL10V bed head protectors were fitted behind each of the beds, providing additional protection for the walls against tough knocks over a range of bed heights.
Additionally, more than 370m of stylish HRBW50-N combined hand and crashrails were installed in corridors and circulation areas.
These comprise 40mm diameter solid ash handrails for support, integrated with white, 125mm high, shock-absorbing Acrovyn PVC-Free crash rails that protect walls from impact damage, all mounted on single, robust stainless steel brackets.
The system complies with Approved Document M and BS 8300 for handrail diameter, stand-off from wall and bracket clearance.
An extra solid ash handrail, on a separate stainless steel bracket, was placed lower down the walls of the children’s/young person’s ward, to help smaller patients and visitors move around safely.
A simpler approach to wall protection was used in back-of-house areas, where impact damage was a bigger concern.
Heavy duty impact protection SCR-50N Acrovyn PVC-Free crash rails were installed at mid-wall height. These feature a curved, free-floating Acrovyn cover, that flexes on impact, mounted on a continuous aluminium retainer.
Additionally, textured Acrovyn PVC-Free Sheet, in 949 White and Grey Cloud, was used to protect walls in storage areas.
Finally, Acrovyn SO corner guards were used throughout the new building, including the variable angle model to accommodate wall irregularities. This cost-effective medium-duty solution to protecting a range of corner angles is available in 50mm and 75mm leg sizes. Protection is cut to size and mounted on wall surfaces quickly and efficiently with construction adhesive or factory-applied foam tape.
“We wanted the Stanmore Building to reflect the medical excellence for which the hospital is renowned; to enhance our patients’ experience and to give staff an excellent working environment, so they can provide the best care possible,” says Trudy Johnson, PMO Programme Manager at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust.
“The art and poetry in the corridors and wards is a key element of the interior design. It is great that we do not have to worry about the murals in the wards and bedrooms getting damaged, so they will benefit everyone staying and working in the hospital for years to come.”
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