AHP were appointed to reconfigure a section of Central Middlesex Hospital to increase the capacity of the Elective Orthopaedic Centre operating theatre suite.

The scheme involved:
• Two new laminar flow operating theatres, to the highest modern standards
• A ten-bay recovery ward
• Supporting clinical and ancillary spaces

The design repurposed underutilised areas to meet increased surgical demand while improving the patient and staff experience and included enabling projects in other areas of the hospital to facilitate decant.

Delivered in a live hospital setting, the project demanded careful coordination and phasing to maintain uncompromised clinical function and full use of the existing theatres throughout construction.

Key architectural measures included:
• Close collaboration with hospital management teams and service stakeholders to fully align design and construction with clinical needs.
• Integrated design team coordination on complex structural implications and M&E services, including a new roof-mounted compliant AHU and complex HVAC design.
• Full site support, working hand in hand with the client and main contractor to overcome all discoverable issues, installation coordination and accommodation of live clinical requirement and procedures.
• Integration with existing fire escape strategy and life safety systems.

Our approach prioritised patient safety, operational continuity, and long-term spatial efficiency, and was delivered on programme and within budget.

The completed centre delivers:
• Capacity for 4,000 additional orthopaedic procedures per year
• Significant reductions in surgical waiting times
• Enhanced patient recovery environments and outcomes
• Estimated operational savings of £4 million annually

This project demonstrates how targeted architectural interventions can maximise existing infrastructure to meet growing healthcare demands.