Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, University College London (UCL) and Moorfields Eye Charity have appointed AECOM with Penoyre & Prasad and White Arkitekter to design a proposed new centre for eye care, research, and education.
The appointment follows a comprehensive, six-month competition process led by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
David Probert, chief executive of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “AECOM’s award-winning team was selected due to its exemplary innovation and creativity, outstanding design quality, and previous experience in delivering health, research and education facilities across the UK.
“It has been a huge few months for this innovative and exciting project, with Moorfields recently securing a substantial amount of funding from the Department of Health and Social Care.
“I look forward to working with AECOM, Penoyre & Prasad and White Arkitekter as this project progresses.”
Dale Sinclair, director of technical practice at AECOM, added: “AECOM is excited to be leading this experienced team of architects, engineers and specialists, who have a collective track record of delivering high-quality healthcare environments across the world.
“Together with Penoyre & Prasad and White Arkitekter we will work with the joint partners, patients and staff to design a world-class facility that will help shape the future of eye care, research and education.
“Our design for the proposed facility is focused on maximising collaboration and knowledge exchange, with an ‘oriel’ at the building’s centre enabling greater interaction between patients, clinicians and researchers.
“The facility’s public spaces would create a new urban realm that will connect seamlessly with the ongoing renaissance of the King’s Cross area of London.”
Staff and patients will now have the opportunity to input on the initial design elements. This work will inform the project’s upcoming Outline Business Case.
‘Oriel’, as the project is known, is a joint proposal from Moorfields Eye Hospital, UCL and Moorfields Eye Charity to relocate all services from Moorfields Eye Hospital on City Road and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in Bath Street to a new, purpose-built facility at a preferred site at St Pancras Hospital.
The new facility would bring together clinical care, research and education expertise in one flexible, fully-integrated facility, while being focused on patients and attracting and retaining the best clinicians, scientists and educators.
If approved, the new facility could be open to patients by 2026.
