National Rehabilitation Centre

The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) is a 70-bed purpose-built national resource for learning and healthcare, underpinned by the partnership between the Nottinghamshire Hospital Trust, Loughborough University, and Ministry of Defence.

The need to be person-centric is at the heart of the facility’s design which is being delivered by Okana partner, Ryder. This included creating opportunities for enhancing patient experience and enjoyment through the use of gardens, terraces and the other external landscapes with the aim to promote wellbeing and optimise healing. In addition, the smart hospital design ensures the NRC is as digitally advanced as possible with the added capability to incorporate additional cutting-edge technology in the future.

The NRC shares specialist facilities with the nearby Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) including a hydrotherapy pool and CAREN (Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment). The modern look and feel of the NRC was designed to complement the traditional architectural style of the DMRC as both are situated within the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate.

What would be considered routine cleaning and maintenance in any other building needed to be considered in greater detail from differing perspectives for the NRC. One example of this is the canopy design which allows access to high level windows when they require maintenance or cleaning. Okana’s canopy design featured geometric shapes on hinges allowing the complex arrangement to be collapsed for window access or when the canopy needs cleaning or maintenance. The canopy was erected in a modular style to facilitate this. This ensured the integrity and aesthetics of the design was balanced with creating safe access. Just as the building will always require maintenance it must always guarantee minimal disruption to vulnerable service users.

As digitally enabled CDM principal designers, the team was able to provide the client with visual insights ahead of construction which included the building design, overall site and specific hazards associated with this project. These insights began with the design concept, through to construction and ongoing use of the building from cleaning and maintenance to dismantling at the end of the structure’s life. We were able to plan, manage and monitor the preconstruction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety through a digitally driven approach.