Reprovision of Highcroft Hospital, Birmingham

Sector: Mental Health
Client: Northern Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust
Role: Lead Consultant & Architect
Value: £9m
Status: Completed 2002
Awards: Building Better Healthcare 2002, Highly Commended for Best Designed Hospital Project

The brief, developed in conjunction with the Trust, was to reprovide a range of services in new communitybased facilities. In order to reconfigure the site for disposal and redevelopment the new mental health facilities were located on its periphery so that they integrate with the surrounding community and with the other new on-site developments, taking advantage of public open space for outlook and recreational opportunities.

The Trusts aim was that the new building should help to achieve a change in the ethos of the service from an asylum-based model to an acute service in a community setting. There was an emphasis on the integration of design with service principles, a focus on respect for the rights and needs of individuals for dignity, privacy and selfdetermination during their crisis, treatment and rehabilitation.

The use of single loaded corridors allowed views across the garden courtyards. This layout contributes to good staff observation and supervision of the circulation areas, also allowing easy access to contained external areas for the residents.

The development comprise of the following new buildings:

28 bed older adult assessment unit supplemented by a 20 place day hospital.
26 bed high dependency unit with direct areas to a core activity centre.
13 bed rehabilitation unit providing self-contained hotel style flats.