Our Expertise & Processes for Primary Care Building Design
At Pearce Bottomley Architects, we have over 25 years of experience in the healthcare building design industry, with a specialisation in primary care architecture.
Over the last 20 years, we have designed 18 new-build primary care centres throughout the UK - so we have an in-depth understanding of the processes required behind designing well-considered, dementia-friendly, future-proofed healthcare centres.
Our experience in healthcare architecture across the UK
We’re currently working with 32 GP practices across the UK designing both new builds and future-proofing existing centres in order to incorporate new facilities. We always aim to give them the flexibility and space to grow for their patient population and services.
We are well-versed in the processes, regulations, and requirements necessary for this complex industry, and pride ourselves in not just providing exceptional building design services, but also project management and liaison throughout the process.
Our dedication to continual communications and customer service is particularly important when ensuring that the buildings are created according to regulations and BREEAM requirements. These processes are implemented very early into the building design process, with us working closely alongside the BREEAM assessors to ensure that our buildings meet “Excellent” standards.
Working with Third-Party Developers and GP’s on Primary Care Building Projects
We work across both GP-led projects and with third-party developers, having built a great relationship with a number of developers across the country, including: Assura, PHP, Waypoint, Apollo, Lovel, Community Ventures, and Medical Centre Developments.
Having worked across the LIFT framework, and PFI - we have a good understanding of the requirements involved in every healthcare project - including how to manage stakeholders, meet regulatory requirements, and ensure projects have the life-span needed to grow with the practice.
Creating Dementia-Friendly Spaces and Practices
Our skilled architects understand how to create layouts, wayfinding, and flowing structures that are dementia-friendly - helping patients with navigating their way around the GP practice, ensuring that their visits are as accessible as possible.
We now create designs that bear COVID measures and accessibility in mind. It’s also important to always consider Secured by Design, Durability, Flexible spaces, and NIA/GIA plans within your GP practice design.
Our Primary Care Design Experience Isn’t Just GP Practices
Although they may form the main bulk of primary care building designs, we also work with other primary care organisations – providing services such as audiology, physiotherapy, screening centres, podiatry, and semi-private healthcare providers. We’ve worked with companies such as Spire Healthcare, Novus Health and Living Care Group to create centres across the UK.
Examples of our Healthcare Architecture
Heckmondwike new primary care centre - This project involved creating a new three-storey primary care centre to accommodate two GP surgeries, a pharmacy, and a PCT treatment suite. Each GP surgery had its own floor, with shared accommodation for staff on the second floor. This was completed in 2010.
The building was designed to use heat pumps to provide a minimum of 10% of the building's energy requirements from an on-site renewable source.
Heckmondwike new primary care centre
Hessle new primary care centre - This new three-storey primary care centre needed to house the Grange GP practice in Hessle, near Hull. It was completed in 2005.
The building now includes a GP surgery, PCT accommodation, physiotherapy, audiology, occupational therapy, podiatry, community dentist suite, and multi-purpose areas. It also included a high-specification day case surgery suite.
Hessle new primary care centre
Brig Royd Surgery, Ripponden
This project involved designing and building a new two-storey Primary Care Centre - a GP Practice in Ripponden, West Yorkshire. It was completed in 2009.
The building accommodates a GP surgery, pharmacy and PCT attached staff accommodation. It’s orientated to take advantage of the aspect of the valley and is zoned to have publicly accessible spaces on the ground floor and staff-only accommodation on the first floor.
The building is designed with air-source heat pumps to provide a minimum of 10% of the building’s energy requirements from an on-site renewable source.
Brig Royd Health Centre, Ripponden
Shipley Medical Practice
Shipley Medical Practice is a new three-storey Primary Care Centre, built to accommodate a GP Practice and ancillary PCT Services, and to replace the existing health centre on the same site. Whilst contemporary in character it’s complementary to its surroundings through the selection of materials and overall external building forms and designed to create a landmark building, which is a focal point within the community and achieves both patient satisfaction and social interaction.
It provides an external and internal environment that promotes the well-being of users and staff to achieve character and innovation. We achieved a flexible design, which is robust and adaptable to a range of multipurpose uses and future expansion. It also enables access for all members of the community, whatever their ability, social group, or background.
We were asked to deliver a design that could be built safely, whilst being technologically advanced. The design also needed to be environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable
It was completed in 2007.
Shepley Medical Practice
Willand Health Centre, Anlaby, East Yorkshire
This new three-storey Primary Care centre provides accommodation for Willerby Medical Practice. The protracted process started in 2013 and the building eventually opened in 2022.
The building accommodates clinical consulting and treatment spaces over the ground and first floors, with staff facilities on the second floor and a pharmacy also residing on the ground floor.
Willand Health Centre, Anlaby, East Yorkshire
Girlington Health Centre
This contemporary two-storey Primary Care Centre was completed in 2013, in the heart of Bradford.
Clinical accommodation was arranged on either side of a double-height central atrium, which provided natural light into the heart of the building and allowed dual entrances from the street and the rear car park.
The building achieved BREEAM Excellent and was highly commended in the RICS Awards.
Girlington Health Centre
Ashwell Medical Centre, Bradford
This challenging project was procured during Covid, involving two extensions and a major remodelling of the existing building. The project was phased to ensure that the surgery continued to operate at all times and included a significant redesign and planning resubmission whilst on site due to the presence of a sewer beneath one of the original proposed extensions.
It was completed in 2022.
Rendition of Ashwell Medical Centre, Bradford