P+HS Architects in best of health

Jun 30 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

A TEAM of Stokesley-based architects is celebrating an award-winning performance in the healthcare sector.

P+HS Architects received the best Healthcare Building title at the Northern Region Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Awards with Laing O’Rourke as its construction partner.

Developed for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, the building brings services right to the heart of the Washington community and improves the quality of primary care settings.

This new £8.9m centre, provides approximately 2,400sq m of accommodation over two floors providing services such as ultrasound and x-ray, planned care for people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and community renal dialysis with 15 treatment beds for patients.

Seeking to reduce the carbon footprint of the building, several low energy systems were incorporated into the design, including roof mounted wind catchers for natural ventilation, and solar pre-heating panels linked to the domestic hot water system, which provide up to 85% of the hot water for the facility.

Diana Cole, marketing manager at P+HS, said: “We are particularly proud of our success at the awards this year.

“Not only were P+HS part of the successful team for the Best Healthcare Building but we also received commendations for two other recent projects: Eaglescliffe Medical Centre for Abstract Integrated Healthcare, with Tolent Construction, and Wrekenton Primary Care Centre for Sunderland TPCT, again with Laing O’Rourke.

“These buildings demonstrate what can be achieved through good team working, and the new improved facilities will deliver huge benefit to the communities they serve.”

This year marks 25 years for P+HS, and from its small beginnings as a partnership in 1984 the company has gone from strength to strength and now employs 60 staff and operates throughout the UK from offices in North Yorkshire and Leeds.

Other recent developments for P+HS include the new highly sustainable mixed use development for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society which includes office accommodation, and the Fodder shop and café specialising in Yorkshire produce.