Windows specifically
designed by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer for the healthcare sector are
bringing four-fold benefits to a new
£40 million mental health hospital.
Kawneer's AA®3110HW
windows maximise ventilation while minimising the risk of self harming. They
feature anti-ligature elements such as a wraparound gasket that breaks into
harmless pieces when there is an attempt to remove it, together with a drive
mechanism for opening the window that cannot be used as a ligature point.
At Atherleigh Park
hospital in Leigh, Wigan, the windows were installed alongside Kawneer's AA®100
zone-drained curtain walling and AA®543 tilturn and AA®541 top-hung casement
windows by Polar (NE) Ltd.
The AA®3110HW window
used at Atherleigh Park was enhanced by Polar for use in this project - a
medium-secure mental health facility. The fabricator designed special
extrusions (which Kawneer have now developed from Polar's designs), a reduced
ligature drive mechanism for opening the window and a unique removable security
mesh.
Built by Kier
Construction on the former Leigh East Amateur Rugby League ground, the
3.9-hectare site provides high-quality inpatient services for adults with
mental health problems and patients with dementia and memory loss conditions.
Specifically, it provides 100% single-bed with en-suite occupancy comprising 40
adult acute beds over two wards and the eight-bed PICU complete with public
access entrance building and ancillary accommodation.
The two-storey
building is constructed of steel and timber panel SIPs (Structural Insulated
Panels) and SFS (Steel Framing Systems), with all the wards and services for
inpatients and Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) on the ground floor and
staff accommodation on the first floor. Externally, cedar and red brick
cladding is complemented by large areas of full-height glazing while internally
the colour scheme is bright and fresh.
For regular Kawneer
specifiers AFL Architects, key drivers for the project were to design a
building that acted as a catalyst to help implement a new clinical care pathway
for North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, improved the patient
experience and staff effectiveness, and de-stigmatised mental health.
Providing a healthy
environment for patients was one of the main priorities of the
project. The hospital's facilities include a sports hall, gym, outdoor
courtyards, therapy rooms, landscaped gardens, a nature trail and a cafe for
patients, visitors, staff and the general public.
AFL associate Neil
Milling said that as the site was in a residential area the plans required
early presentations and regular updates with local residents.
"The Kawneer
systems provide security and aesthetics and maximise daylight and ventilation
for the service users," he said. "Aluminium's sustainability played a
small part. Robustness and costings played a larger part."
He added: "Our
integrated design ensured bespoke products allowed the design to be implemented
through construction."
North West Boroughs
Healthcare's project manager Paul Jackson won a design champion award at the
Design in Mental Health Awards 2017 for his part in the project.
Polar also developed
an anti-climb window for this project.
