The Design in Mental Health event ended it first day with its networking and awards event.
The annual exhibition and conference is desgined for those working in or for mental healthcare applications.
This can be NHS trusts building new facilities and services for those with mental health issues, or manufacturers providing anti-ligature and safety equipment for the sector.
In a networking drinks event that happens at the end of day one of the event, the jovial atmosphere reflected the excitement and anticipation of attendees who were in with a chance of winning.
Over the next hour, the winners were revealed:
The winners:
- Art Installation of the Year | Maple Ward
- Clinical Team of the Year | A Last Chance, Taken — and the Team That Changed Everything
- Concept Product Innovation of the Year | The Mechanical Override. Fail-Safe Access That Guarantees Entry Without Additional Tools
- Estates & Facilities Team of the Year | Capital Estates Team - Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- Low cost - High Impact Award | Crompton Street Crisis Café
- Outside Spaces | Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke: Farm Project
- People's Choice Award | Stephanie Kyle, Associate Architect & Inclusive Design Consultant, Neurodiversity Specialist
- Product Innovation of the Year | The Multi-System Key. Simplifying Emergency Access Across Mental Health Door Systems
- Project of the Year International – Future Design (International) | Aqqusariaq Nunavut Recovery Centre
- Project of the Year International - New Build | Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness - Dayton Children's Hospital
- Project of the Year UK - Future Design | From Seclusion to Sunlight: Reimagining Intensive Autism Care Through Therapeutic Design
- Project of the Year UK - New Build | The Brook
- Project of the Year UK - Refurbishment | The Nook from SAMH
- Service User Engagement | Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit
There were hugely enthusiastic responses from the winners as they took to the stage to accept their award.
Building Better Healthcare Editor, Sophie Bullimore, presented the award for "Project of the Year UK - Refurbishment".
"Huge congratulations to The Brook team, such a great project and fantastic to see it being recognised," she said.
“Winning a Building Better Healthcare Award gave our team fantastic recognition and helped raise the profile of our project across the industry.”
Could your project be next? Entries are now open for this year’s awards programme.
Design in Mental Health will return next year in Coventry, taking place on 8–9 June 2027.