London & South East

Maudsley Learning Centre takes shape

Maudsley Hospital- Denmark Hill

A £4.65 million project to build a new learning centre on Denmark Hill – complete with meeting and event space and a cafe – is currently taking shape.

Funded by the Maudsley Charity, the Maudsley Learning Centre project has been designed to provide the very best quality learning and event space in Camberwell. Once work is complete on the project the centre will be used by the NHS Trust – a mental health trust – and partner organisations and affiliations such as the Institute of Psychiatry. The site will also be available for private hire.

The Maudsley Learning Centre project is a PPC 2000 management contract, with Cavendish Barclay as the construction manager and Duggan Morris Architects providing architectural services. Established in 2004, Duggan Morris Architects is an ambitious design led practice with an excellent reputation for working across a broad spectrum of projects.

Mark Shaw, Duggen Morris Architects, commented:

“The Maudsley Learning Centre will encourage people to engage with the NHS Trust and will assist in reducing stigma about the campus and its service users. There is currently a lack of community facilities in Camberwell and as the space will open for community use it will be a significant new resource for local residents. The new centre will be very welcoming and inviting.”

Work began on the project in January 2012. The new centre replaces a former training centre that was constructed in the 1970s and was deemed unfit for purpose.

Maudsley Hospital- Denmark Hill

The building covers approximately 1500 sq metres, split over four levels and is being built from an in-situ fair faced concrete frame. The building includes kiln fired stock bricks, oak faced joinery and steel windows.

The new centre has been designed to achieve BREEAM standards of ‘excellent’ and is a very low energy building, with renewable energy generated from ground source heat pumps powered by photovoltaic (PV) panels. The building is naturally ventilated, with an intelligent sensor-based building management system which controls windows and roof level louvres to improve air circulation.

To complete the project the site will benefit from landscaping work that will compliment the internal teaching areas.

All of the work is taking place on an area of conservation – with a number of Georgian houses located nearby – so all construction is being completed sensitively and in keeping with its surroundings.

At present the building’s frame has been erected and the service fit-out work has taken place.

Mark said:

“It is very important for Duggen Morris Architects to be involved with this project as it is a significant new build in this sector.

“Through the course of this project we are learning about construction methods that we have not worked with before and this is a sector that we would like to conduct more work in.”

The Maudsley Learning Centre project is currently on programme and is scheduled to reach completion in March 2013.

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