As one of the UK’s leading independent healthcare providers, St Andrew’s Healthcare appointed Oxford Architects to design and deliver a flagship building on their historic Northampton campus, working alongside the façade architect.

Set in historic parkland, the 19,650sqm 4-storey neo-classical building design responds to the client’s aspirations and its context within the campus. Accommodating up to 132 patients across 8 wards, all patients are provided with single bedrooms complete with en-suite facilities. Each self-contained ward provides a mixture of dayrooms, a dining room, therapy rooms, seclusion/ de-escalation facilities, a nurse base along with ancillary accommodation and an external courtyard. The central reception leads to child visits, tribunal and various support and therapy facilities that includes amongst others-workshops, library, swimming pool, multi-faith room, hairdresser, medical suite, property stores, and a cafétéria.

There is a strong emphasis on linking the patients with the outside world, both for orientation within the building and to minimise the possibility of an enclosed, custodial feel to the accommodation. Where possible, the building forms the secure perimeter to remove the need for enclosing walls and fences.

The central courtyard is the green heart of the scheme, providing patients with a therapeutic space where they can directly experience the outside world from within the safe environment of the facility.

Orientation and way finding is achieved within the building with the use of feature walls and artwork.

• shortlisted for the Specialist Care category in the prestigious Pinder Healthcare Design Awards 2011.
• The building achieved a NEAT ‘Excellent’ rating
• 132 bed space, 8 ward, medium secure, mental health facility
• Self contained wards with dining rooms, day room, therapy rooms and de-escalation facilities.
• External courtyards, workshops, library, swimming pool, hairdresser and café
• All rooms with en suite facilities
• Working in conjunction with façade architects to create Neo Classical façade