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Private medical clinic refit in West London.
New premises for Westminster Womens Clinic have opened in West Brompton, London, after a 6 month redesign and refit process. Fusion carried out every role within the design and build project from design and scope of works, project management, and furniture provider. The former GPs surgery underwent extensive modernization and renewal. The 5 floor victorian building offers just over 3600 sq ft gross, but with over 22 rooms it was more of a challenge than the square footage implies. As with any older building problems revealed themselves bit by bit. Rotting sash windows meant damp, and a flooded lift pit meant movement in the foundations, neither of which were immediately evident during a dry Autumn survey period. This clinic refit in West London was made worthwhile when the head consultant, Dr Jess McMicking, said the new clinic provides an ideal working environment.
New Premises for the Practice.
1. Moving to a new home for the Practice. Previously Westminster Womens Clinic operated as a virtual Practice using consultation rooms ad-hoc. With the refit of 10 Redcliffe Street it gives the Clinic a physical identity.
2. A Focus for the Practice. The refit forms both an identity and a set of standards. Everything about the Clinic is now conveyed more clearly by a building, in so few words. All the consultants have a better location to develop their services.
3. Onwards and Upwards. It seems an age ago when WWC was operating virtually. The newly refitted clinic supports the growth and development of the practice. Engaging new consultants starts with a building. New patients likewise. Adding extra services is so much easier when patient and practitioner are together in one space, and Practice managers understand what’s required for delivery. The practice existed before 10 Redcliffe St, but this really is onwards and upwards.
The redesign focused on improving the condition of the interior from the standards of the old NHS surgery. Architectural details were restored, whilst new joinery and finishes were selected to meet infection control and hygiene requirement’s. Boosting the perception of good quality private medical practice was a key design criteria. Client flow was the core of the design consultation whilst ensuring the many fire escape routes were incorporated and updated into the new Fire Risk Assessment (FRA).
Its often the oddest part of a refit that gives most satisfaction. In this project its the staircase. The original was in a poor state. Every spindle has been replaced, whilst retaining the mahogany handrail in situ. Mouldings on the side of every stair tread have been renewed with faithfull copies in new timber. And the handrail was revarnished. To keep costs under control the 1990s aluminium stair nosings were sent off to be repolished in a satin antique brass. The finished staircase looks great, and in keeping with the overall design style. Its hard to see how much work went into the staircase but the effect lets the original victorian quality shine throughout the building.
The 3 largest rooms at the front naturally lend themselves to the Consultants space with adjoining rooms used for support roles in sonography, Midwife and allied health, and patient Preperation space. All patient facing rooms have wash-hand facilities. The 3 consulting rooms use a stunning corian sink that slides away from the wall on extending arms for access. A moulded integrated back-outlet sink is set into the corian worktop in the Prep room, something that may be a first in the UK.
Clinic Reception Area Design
The first impression is formed with new patient entrance doors, an entirely reconfigured reception area design, and main Waiting room for patients. The exterior of the building, in a conservation zone, was also enhanced with new brick-slip facade to the 1990s extension approved via a fast track planning permission application. Alongside this Fusion also obtained planning consent for the external signage.
M&E works entailed a complete re-wire with new electrical distribution boards. Heating and cooling have been replaced with new energy efficient plant. Base-build upgrades included all 5 WCs and the addition of a staff shower, updated staff teapoint, as well as plumbed-in coffee points for visitors in several areas. A baby-change facility was added into the existing accessible WC. A water softener and mains pressure pump were also included in the mechanical designs.
A full external redec was part of the project, which allowed a resolution to a design defect from the original 1850s construction. The whole conservation area uses a parapet ledge for the rainwater protection that is done using guttering in more recent buildings. However this doesn’t work leading to water stains down the building and wet mortar on the brickwork. Our solution was a new aluminium capping that forms a drip edge, keeping the building free of dirty rainwater.
Matching a victorian building to the requirements of 3-phase power, clinical operations and infection control has been an interesting project. The finished interior certainly brings the building up to a great standard, whilst keeping the features and historic architecture to the fore. During the project the team uncovered many previous refits, estimating at least 6 during the 175 year history. We hope this one gives the building another 25 years before the next update.
This refit project has to rank as number 1 in terms of trades and labour used. Fusion have never deployed so many carpenters, decorators, electricians and other trades on one project. Glad to say the finished refit reflects the manpower that’s gone into it. At the launch of the new clinic the lead consultant Dr Jess McMicking said “Couldn’t have achieved what we did without you!”
