Sixty-four of the region’s best property schemes battled it out at the Civic Centre in Newcastle last week for top honours at the RICS North East Renaissance Awards 2014 hosted by North East-born architect and TV presenter, George Clarke.
Designed by P+HS Architects and developed by Keiro, the Gateway project at Middlehaven won not only the Community Benefit category, but was also crowned overall winner as Project of the Year for the region.
The RICS North East Renaissance Awards celebrates the way in which buildings contribute to the built environment, their community and those that use them. Commenting on the winning project, judging panel chairman, David Furniss, said: “When choosing Project of the Year, the judges are always hoping to see something new and innovative that challenges the status quo and uses the building to facilitate change.
“The Gateway is a nationally-significant project that sets a new standard for care and community benefit. This project is a pioneering bridge between the public and private sectors. Its emphasis on collaboration and partnerships are crucial to its success, and it is directly contributing to the regeneration of an area of our region that needs investment. The Gateway’s strong community links have already made it a valued asset in the area and we believe this is a model that could be replicated across the country.”
The Gateway is a nationally-significant project that sets a new standard for care and community benefit. This project is a pioneering bridge between the public and private sectors
The innovative Gateway project is the first neuro-rehabilitation centre of its kind in the country. It aims to provide support at all stages of clients’ recovery pathway via a truly-integrated model which focuses on long-term outcomes and value. The emphasis is on a more social model of care which responds to individuals’ life goals enabling them to continue towards further independence, improved quality of life and sustainable long-term community living at lower cost.
This holistic approach is dependent on linking up the range of services required at different stages of clients’ recovery as they move through rehabilitation towards a return to more-independent living. The Gateway is designed to facilitate these links, challenging the traditional medical model of care and blurring the boundaries between services.
The approach aligns with the NHS drive to decrease the time people spend in hospital wards and reduces unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions. Recent research stated that high-quality private rehab facilities could save the NHS around £120m.
The Gateway was developed on behalf of Keiro and Erimus by Esh Build based on designs by P+HS Architects.
