The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has appointed Stanton Williams, a UK-based architecture firm, to design the new Fleming Centre.
The new Fleming Centre is part of the wider Fleming Initiative, established jointly by Imperial College Healthcare and Imperial College London to find solutions to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at a global scale.
The Centre will provide a space to bring together researchers, policymakers, clinicians, behavioural experts, commercial partners and the public to combine their shared networks, expertise and skills in the fight against AMR.
It will also be part of a global network of centres in strategic locations around the world, aiming to catalyse worldwide action.
Stanton Williams’ concept design for the Fleming Centre embraces the heritage of its proposed location on the site of The Bays
The selection follows a competitive RIBA design competition and a three-day design exhibition in November, showcasing five concept designs from five shortlisted architects.
Feedback from over 300 visitors and 100 written responses helped guide the final selection, ensuring that the winning concept reflected excellence in both design and functionality and is a real asset to the local community.
The next phase of the project will involve detailed design development, public consultations, and the submission of a planning application in collaboration with Westminster City Council.
The Centre is intended to be integrated into a full redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital which is included in the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
The Centre is intended to be integrated into a full redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital which is included in the Government’s New Hospital Programme
The Centre is due to open in 2028, marking 100 years since the discovery of penicillin at St Mary’s by Sir Alexander Fleming.
The other shortlisted teams invited to take part in the design phase of the competition were:
- AHMM
- Allies and Morrison
- Grimshaw
- Wilkinson Eyre with White Arkitekter
Stanton Williams’ concept design for the Fleming Centre embraces the heritage of its proposed location on the site of The Bays.
These former industrial warehouses, dating back to around 1850, were originally used for transport and distribution before being incorporated into the hospital in 1983.
Their approach retains and adapts The Bays as a vital link to Paddington’s industrial past while inserting new elements, including the Fleming Discovery Centre, to showcase cutting-edge science and research.
The design prioritises sustainability, proposing features such as renewable energy systems
The design prioritises sustainability, proposing features such as renewable energy systems, including a water-source heat pump and photovoltaic panels, alongside biodiverse landscaping and a low-carbon structure.
Public engagement is central, with the ground floor designed as an open and welcoming extension of the public realm, offering views into laboratories and curated exhibition spaces to bring science to life.
Professor the Lord Darzi, Executive Chair of the Fleming Initiative said: “Stanton Williams has a bold vision for the Fleming Centre and have brought our ambitions to life with a concept that reflects the Centre’s unique purpose and global significance.”
Professor Tim Orchard, Chief Executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “This is an exciting milestone for the Fleming Centre and the planned, wider redevelopment of the St Mary’s Hospital site. The Stanton Williams design concept gave the selection panel great confidence that the building they design will honour both Sir Alexander Fleming’s legacy and our aspiration for continued innovation with local and global impact.”
Top image: Fleming Centre St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington