A collaborative approach to creating new healthcare facilities in North Lanarkshire, which has transformed health services provision and access for people across East Kilbride, Wishaw and Kilsyth, has demonstrated how local communities can reap expansive benefits when locally based, sustainably focused supply chain partners are appointed.
All three construction projects were delivered with the help of Castlecary based CMS Window Systems, which was appointed by main contractor GRAHAM to manufacture and install aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling for the three new build facilities. Hub South West Scotland Limited was ultimately responsible for delivering the new centres as part of a £48 million investment programme funded by the Scottish Government.
Working to designs by Reiach & Hall Architects, CMS was contracted to provide a variety of building envelope elements manufactured using thermally broken aluminium systems from Metal Technology. These ensured the finished complexes would benefit from the optimal combination of thermal comfort, energy efficiency, longevity and excellent visual appeal.
The new £23 million Houldsworth Centre in Wishaw is a three and five storey complex providing NHS healthcare facilities alongside North Lanarkshire council’s new housing office and library, a shop and café. Centrally located at the heart of the community, the building replaces the former Wishaw Health Centre and Wishaw library. CMS manufactured and installed all the aluminium curtain walling and side hung windows for this contemporary building.
In nearby Kilsyth, CMS worked alongside GRAHAM to provide aluminium curtain walling, windows and doors for the town’s new Community Health Centre. This £7.8 million facility is around twice the size of the health centre it replaced in the town and represents a step change in the quality of the health care facilities and services available to patients locally. CMS played an integral part in delivering the high quality internal environment due to the enhancement of the building layout through a two storey courtyard and light well to maximise natural daylight within the building.
The third new medical centre built as part of the project is the £17 million Hunter Health Centre in East Kilbride. Home to six GP practices, as well as a dental practice and a variety of other medical services, the 6300m2 facility features a large glazed central atrium space, intended to create a calming atmosphere and maximise natural light within the building. CMS played a key role in creating the four-storey building’s envelope, installing thermally efficient units to regulate its internal temperature which keeps the Hunter Health Centre light and bright.
According to Stephen Anderson, who heads the Aluminium Division at CMS, in choosing CMS as a local supplier the project supports wider sustainability benefits, ranging from environmental to social in supporting local jobs.
He says: “We were delighted to be involved with these healthcare building projects because they are hugely important to the communities around us, in which many of the CMS team and their families live. It was extremely pleasing to have secured the contract from GRAHAM to be part of this building programme, an appointment which contributes to our business success and ensures we can continue to provide more local jobs, including our large number of apprenticeships.
"Our finished products are designed to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings during their lifespan, including being fully recyclable at the end of their service life, which will undoubtedly benefit NHS Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Council in the long term."
Employing around 250 people at its 15-acre main manufacturing facility and HQ at Castlecary near Glasgow, plus its recycling plant and office facilities in Fife, CMS Window Systems is one of Scotland’s fastest growing manufacturing businesses. In addition to its range of aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling, the company also manufactures and installs PVCu and timber composite window, door and curtain walling systems, as well as offering a total envelope solution through the installation of external wall insulation (EWI) and cladding.
