Billed as the ‘best in the UK’, Marie Curie’s new multi-million pound hospice in Solihull boasts state-of-the-art facilities, fixtures and fittings designed to provide comforting and enriching end-of-life care for patients.
From whirlpool to widescreens, Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall Architects insisted upon high quality, long term value for money specifications, in order to provide patients and their carers with the highest possible standard of living and the most aesthetically pleasing environment. This attention to detail extended to the striking all-glass automatic doors and screen in the open-plan reception, where the architects specified GEZE’s premium Slimdrive SL GGS automatic sliding door system.
Driven by GEZE’s industry-leading 7cm high Slimdrive SL operators and suspending the glass leaves from high-grade stainless steel fittings , this top-of-the-range system eliminated the need for unsightly door rails.
Individually made by GEZE UK for contractors Wilmott Dixon Construction to bespoke specifications, the elegant, frameless entrance comprised a pair of large glass doors and matching screen, which were created for general access for all through reception, as well as an identical single door for staff access to the reception area. All featured a sandblast design incorporating a protective poly-coat.
At the main entrance, where safety, access, sustainability and reliability were all of paramount importance, two sets of entrance doors were specified to create a lobby area, using GEZE’s Slimdrive SL with Slimprofile ISO door leaves and pocket screens. By creating a lobby, heat loss and gain through the main entrance is minimised, improving energy efficiency without limiting accessibility.
Designed and tested to meet the requirements of all relevant standards and regulations, including Building Bulletin 93 and Approved Documents B and M, the Slimdrive SL operators used at the Marie Curie hospice also assist with the vigorous demands of the Equality Act, by enabling easy access for all.
The hospice is a hub for palliative care and houses several clinics, as well as 24 bedrooms, meeting the needs of patients with cancer, motor neurone conditions and other illnesses. In bedrooms and sluice rooms, Laidlaw Solutions North East specified and fitted 38 TS 4000 EFS manual door closers finished in satin stainless steel, enabling each door to be opened easily yet provide safe closing in the event of a fire.
Ideal for hospitals, healthcare environments and residential homes for the elderly, the TS 4000 EFS overhead closers are fitted with a free swing function which enables people to go through the door with minimal effort to open or close it, yet in the event of a fire, the electro hydraulic hold open device ensures safe automatic closing of the door. Approved for use on fire and smoke protection doors, the closers offer an adjustable hold open from 80° to 180°, fully controlled closing from 180° and have a low power consumption of 24VDC -45mA.
GEZE UK’s sales director Andy Howland commented: “This is a landmark project in the UK’s healthcare sector, setting a new standard in care and comfort and it’s good to see so many GEZE products being specified and installed. It’s clear that when architects and architectural ironmongers are looking for quality products that they trust to deliver in terms of safety, reliability, accessibility and aesthetics, they turn to us.”
