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Research enables our designers to create innovative environments based on the best possible information and insight. A foundation that supports our design solutions, design research offers our clients an extra measure of assurance that sound evidence and intentionality is behind each of our decisions. We hold our designs accountable to high standards by committing to assessing outcomes, opportunities for improvement, and tangible return on investment. We believe that informed intent, and meaningful (and measurable) impact, are core tenets of responsible design and innovative practice. Thought-provoking research papers, through our in-house team CADRE and their collaborative studies, have explored various current themes challenging the global health industry today, as well as generating new ideas for future-ready health facilities.
We design environments that engage and inspire the people who use them. At HKS, we take an integrated approach to interior design, bringing together interior designers, architects, environmental graphic designers, and researchers to create places that delight, heal, provide reassurance and stimulate peak performance with measurable impact. Well-considered interior design can intentionally reinforce the mission and image of a healthcare institution. Our designers are well-versed in research on how design applications can impact and accelerate patient recovery through positive distractions, access to natural daylight and views out to nature, patient control and family-orientated environments. Creating beautiful respite spaces for staff wellness alongside stimulating environments for learning and training is also showcased through our extensive experience. Our global Mindful Materials knowledge base allows the team to select materials for projects to meet demanding infection control criteria and create healthier environments and communities for a sustainable and lasting legacy.
Our planning process is driven by continuous innovation and adaptation. Working interactively and collaboratively with each client is pivotal to developing a robust and implementable master plan. Our planning effort includes reviewing strategic objectives and establishing priorities, analysing the client’s current state opportunities, utilisation, demand and capacity. This enables us to collaborate with our clients to develop a master plan that supports immediate clinical needs and future vision, providing flexibility for the ever-changing healthcare landscape. We focus on developing creative andagile options that adhere to financial constraints and can be delivered in a phased approach, often on a live hospital site. We strive to address patient satisfaction issues typically experienced within aged estates, such as patient privacy and dignity, noise and cleanliness, and improve staff experience and well-being that the physical environment can impact. These master plans are the foundation of a successful, efficient, and beautiful campus that enables clients to deliver high-quality care and support staff wellbeing.
Well-designed health facilities can improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. Our process includes collaborative stakeholders, lean principles and performance metrics to measure the meaningful impact on operational effectiveness, patient and staff experience, resiliency, sustainability, safety and improved outcomes. This inclusive, performance-driven approach ensures that each project will support your operations, values and vision for delivering transformative healthcare services to the communities you serve. We advise clients on how best to achieve measurable impact, bringing our international experience and lessons learnt. Our subject matter experts include strategists, operational advisors, nurses, architects, planners, financial analysts and industrial engineers. By following a data-driven approach with a business focus to facilitate the decision-making process, our team places clients on an optimal course to be successful.
Developing research-based healthcare planning solutions to optimise workflow, streamline staff, increase safety, and present positive outcomes is critical to a project’s success. Our skilled medical planners develop innovative solutions, guiding clients through complex planning and design efforts whilst utilising strategic, operational, logistical, and functional tools to bring a dynamic engagement approach. Designing through overall site flows and departmental adjacencies to room-by-room layouts and detailed equipment layouts, we seek to promote operational best practices and evidence-based design strategies. The result is innovative spaces that work hard, endure the test of time, and provide future flexibility for the ever-changing care and technology landscape. Our reputation as industry experts goes beyond testimonials; we are committed to providing a local, personal, thoughtful service that consistently exceeds expectations.
Architecture not only reflects our time and culture but also shapes it. At its best, great architecture inspires new ideas and ways of life. At HKS, we see architecture as the intersection between beauty and performance. We collaborate with various clients, including NHS Trusts, private health providers, multi-disciplinary consultants, contractors, and investors. Our integrated engagement delivers lasting value while conserving natural resources and minimising environmental impact. The London teams’ expertise, combined with international award-winning research, informs design decisions that reflect community values, optimise operations, and provide a safe, functional, and sustainable sense of place. Our inspiring portfolio brings a vast range of projects for all levels of care, including acute hospitals, specialist units such as cancer care to community hubs; each user-centred environment incorporates the most advanced technology available, offering the flexibility to accommodate future advancements while reducing stress, promoting healing, and increasing patient, visitor, and staff efficiency.
HKS is committed to a climate-positive future. Driven by the goal to help limit global temperature rise to below 1.5°C, we work as responsible stewards of our resources, communities and planet.In addition to joining the UN Global Compact, HKS has joined the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. These initiatives require rigour, transparency and industry movement towards a net zero future. We are carbon neutral – through a strategy of monitoring, reducing, and offsetting carbon, we have achieved carbon neutrality for our business operations. This stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility.
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Ada Lovelace Church of England High School
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust - Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
Private Client 33 Grosvenor Place
Private Client 24 Portland Place
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - St. Mary’s Hospital
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust - Haywood Community Hospital
Design & delivery of acute block expansion within the wider hospital masterplan
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust - Salford Royal Hope Building
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust - Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre
Greenfield replacement hospital with retained estate masterplan
University of North Midlands NHS Trust - Royal Stoke Hospital
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – The Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Birmingham
london
stoke on trent
salford
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust Salford Royal Hope Building
gateshead
manchester
Christie NHS Foundation Trust - Proton Beam Therapy Centre
Additional Projects:
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust - Salford Royal Mayo Building
Countess of Chester Women and Children’s Unit
chester
St. Pancras Hospital Site Feasibility
London
Private Cancer Care
various locations
North West London – Ophthalmology Diagnostic Hub
North Staffordshire
University of North Midlands NHS Trust Royal Stoke Hospital
Pharmacy
Rehabilitation
Clinical Support Services
Wellness
Women and Children
Greenfield/ Remodel
Critical Care
Emergency/ Urgent Care
Specialist Units: Neurosciences Orthopaedics Cardiology
Interventional and Procedure Suites
Imaging
Paediatrics
Academic Healthscience Centres/Teaching Hospitals
Ambulatory Services
Assisted Living/ Senior Living
Mental Health
Cancer Centres
Clinical Laboratories
Regional Practice Director, Health
Regional Practice Director
Regional Design Director
Health Advisory Leader, EMEA
Studio Practice Leader
Senior Architect
Senior Interior Designer
Senior Architectural Technologist
Project Architect
Senior Architectural Designer
REGIONAL PRACTICE DIRECTOR, HEALTH
REGIONAL DESIGN DIRECTOR
HEALTH ADVISORY LEADER, EMEA
STUDIO PRACTICE LEADER
PROJECT ARCHITECT
SENIOR ARCHITECT
SENIOR INTERIOR DESIGNER
SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST
REGIONAL PRACTICE DIRECTOR
SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
The NHS SBS' HPCCAS Framework Agreement offers a UK-wide, comprehensive, convenient and compliant route to find and purchase services from carefully vetted suppliers operating in the design and construction space quickly and efficiently. The framework runs from 14 August 2023 to 13 August 2027.
We are pleased to announce our appointment as a supplier on the significant Healthcare Planning, Construction Consultancy and Ancillary Service (HPCCAS) Framework Agreement by NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS). This recognition underscores HKS's commitment to providing innovative and sustainable architectural solutions that positively impact healthcare environments. The NHS SBS is renowned for its rigorous evaluation process, and HKS's inclusion as a supplier exemplifies the firm's esteemed reputation within the architecture and design industry.
If an organisation is not a Framework member and is interested in registering as an Associate Member, please get in touch with NHS Shared Business Services.
The Framework comprises 11 Lots, and clients can access it at no cost to themselves. We have pre-agreed competitive Framework fee rates for our services.
HKS has been awarded positions on the framework for: Lot 1: Architectural Services Lot 9: Healthcare Planning, including developing models of care, demand and capacity modelling, business case development, population health needs assessment and strategic estate planning. Lot 11: Ancillary Services including town planning, landscape architecture, master planning, public realm design and strategy, estate strategy, interior design, BIM management and coordination.
The Framework offers the NHS and other public sector organisations a compliant and cost-effective route for procuring design and construction-related services, including architecture, amongst various other specialisms. The Framework covers various project sizes and scales across the UK. These can be new build or refurbishment schemes, using traditional or design and build procurement.
The NHS and all other public sector organisations can access the Framework to procure services for their projects.
Partner REGIONAL PRACTICE DIRECTOR, HEALTH
Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is a brand new compact acute hospital for the Sandwell and Birmingham NHS Trust. Located on a six-hectare brownfield site in Smethwick, the project is at the centre of the area’s regeneration, close to the historical heart of the industrial revolution. The 11-storey, 84,000 sqm building provides 636 beds along with 13 operating theatres and Europe’s busiest emergency department. The Sandwell and Birmingham NHS Trust is supporting a new model of care for the half million people served by the organisation, by bringing together acute care and emergency services currently provided at two separate hospitals into this one site. The new hospital, located between Sandwell and Birmingham, creates a centralised hub for emergency care and supports collaboration between care teams. The project also encourages renewal in a designated regeneration zone.
Consolidated services for high-quality healthcare
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In association with Cagni Williams Architects and Sonneman Toon Associates
The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust continues to deliver the highest quality of health care with the replacement of the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Located near Liverpool City Centre, the 94,000 sqm 636-bed hospital focuses on the patient experience, maximising natural light and calming views throughout the building. As Liverpool’s main trauma hospital, it features 40 critical care beds, an 81-bay emergency department and a 19-OR surgery suite. Services include cardiology, respiratory care, renal dialysis, ophthalmology, haematology and vascular surgery. A large atrium and public concourse with two landscaped gardens allow nearly all destinations to be visible from the entrance, removing stress and anxiety through efficient wayfinding. The exterior ceramic rain-screen cladding and light-coloured masonry resemble nearby historically significant buildings. A large, canted structure containing the inpatient wards encourages natural light to penetrate deep into the heart of the building, supporting patient and staff well-being. Adjacent and connected to the main hospital, the Clinical Sciences and Support Building provides a key specialist laboratory serving the wider region, pharmacy and administration support functions. The landscaped public plaza connects the hospital with Everton Park, the university and the Knowledge Quarter, creating a new green heart for the city campus. This hospital was designed to BREEAM Excellent standards.
100% single inpatient bedroom rooms in a flexible, future-proof environment
The Christie, Manchester, is home to the first high energy NHS proton beam therapy (PBT) centre in the UK, where NHS patients can receive treatment without having to travel abroad, reducing stress levels and lowering infection risks. The centre houses three gantries and a research room that can be refit for a fourth gantry. Clinic exam rooms separate waiting areas from treatment zones. Focused on the patient experience, the design creates a warm and inviting space that reduces fear and anxiety. There are three distinct patient zones— an adult zone designed as a social hub with a café, a teenage lounge area for relaxing and interaction, and a children’s area with interactive feature walls.
Bringing pioneering technology to the NHS
The 33 Grosvenor Place project entailed remodeling an existing 1950s office building into a 185-bed private inpatient health care clinic in the heart of Belgravia. The remodel retained the external facade, refurbished, and replaced windows and restored architectural features previously removed during an extensive renovation in the 1990s. As a result, the reconfiguration of the existing internal organisation of the building maximises the clinic’s accommodation, with the public and visitor circulation segregated from routes used for clinical movement. Public and family areas are located close to the main public lifts for easy access and staff and logistics movement Is located discretely away from public areas. Understanding the client’s brand, business strategy, patient-first ethos and vision was fundamental to leading the briefing and stakeholder engagement sessions and translating these needs into appropriate spatial requirements. Collaborating closely with the client design team and clinical advisors, HKS created an efficiently planned facility, allowing for future modifications such as additional expansion for staff and patient areas The relationship between patient surroundings and reducing stress and anxiety is a key principle in the design vision, providing healing environments beyond the essential provision of services.
Complex and sensitive remodel for world-class health care
The Outpatient Centre is within easy reach of the main inpatient facility at Grosvenor Place. The existing building, formerly an office space, was converted into a clinic providing heart, vascular, respiratory, neuroscience and diagnostic imaging services to outpatients. Challenges of this design included compliant design for any specialist healthcare technology, such as the MRI suite, in a narrow floorplate within a period building facade. Patient-centred care recognises a family’s importance as caregivers and decision-makers in healing. All consulting and treatment rooms have natural daylight and views out to the local neighbourhood. A straightforward registration and admissions process, alongside clear way-finding present an initial impression of support and confidence. Public and family areas are located close to the main public lifts for easy access, and all consulting and treatment rooms are on the upper floors to maximise views of the outside surroundings. The importance of staff retention and recruitment cannot be understated, and the specialised care of patients requires highly demanding expert staff. Key design considerations include creating functional, comfortable spaces supporting staff alertness, health and well-being.
Repurposing a heritage building for modern outpatient care
St Mary’s Hospital campus redevelopment project is transformative, providing an opportunity for a major regeneration comprising a new purpose-built acute hospital at the core of a mixed-use development adjacent to London Paddington train station. HKS was commissioned to undertake a feasibility study, testing the clinical brief within the site constraints to achieve the client’s vision for two interconnected hospital buildings on the eastern part of the site. The 160,000 sqm project Is to be accommodated within an approx. 36-floor high-rise trauma acute facility linked to an 8-storey ambulatory care building across the road. The proposals developed considered the fundamental user experience and their journeys at different access points around the wider campus area, to the main entrance and the destination within the hospital buildings. Balancing the design, massing and impact of such a significant landmark tower in the local context and its neighbours, with Intricate operational functions and user needs, the team created multiple options to meet the complex clinical stacking and adjacencies, flow segregation, smooth logistics, patient privacy and dignity, and all user experiences, reflecting the Trust’s redevelopment aspirations, design principles and adaptable estates strategy.
Reconfiguring Trauma, Acute and Outpatient Services in an urban environment
The new Haywood Community Hospital development provides a full range of intermediate care facilities to serve its local community. Outpatient services are co-located with intermediate care beds for the elderly, mentally ill, rehabilitation and rheumatology patients. The inpatient and outpatient areas share access to diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation and support areas. Integrating these varied client groups into one facility required sensitive planning, allowing each patient group to have its ideal and individual environment without dividing up the unified approach to the building. The design was based on developing a series of modulated blocks that maintain a domestic scale of development in a contemporary environment. Warm materials of textured render, brickwork and timber feature panels were used. In response to the mature woodland nature of the site, the facility takes full advantage of its external space. Courtyards were designed to respond to the specific nature of each client group. Inpatient areas with views of nature are the rear of the site, while more public spaces are clustered around the landscaped entrance area.
Serving the local community for seamless care
The Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Hope Building allows the integration of outpatient facilities and inpatient beds with the hospital’s existing diagnostic and treatment hub. The 46,500 sqm,242-bed expansion replaces out-of-date Victorian ward areas and creates a cohesive health care campus. The facility also includes 32 critical care beds, emergency department, women’s services, comprehensive renal services, acute intestinal failure unit, integrated urology and integrated dermatology for outpatients and inpatients. Additional services such as a mortuary, pharmacy, education and training are provided in a less acute service block. The facility faces the street, guiding people onto and through the campus. The entrance is connected to public spaces that are linked to department reception and waiting areas — promoting easy wayfinding for staff, patients and visitors.
Primary Care Trust (PCT), Library and Community facilities centre in the Cleadon Park area of South Tyneside is made up of a mix of 750 properties, both for sale and rent, along with community facilities including a Primary Care Centre and Library, Pharmacy, Welfare Rights and Customer Service Centre which has transformed one of the most rundown areas in South Tyneside into a flagship modern estate. There is increased interest in concentrating specialist services in a smaller number of expert centres, leaving a layer of general hospitals to deal with high volume, common treatments. Across Europe, hospitals account for between 25 and 60% of the total health care expenditure. Though the size of the hospital may shrink, there will be a need to have spaces that support the use of these technologies.
Vibrant care hub in the community
The acute care hospital at the City General Campus focuses on the patient environment with distinct inpatient and outpatient components. The outpatient component includes a walk-in diagnostic and treatment centre, education and research centre and assisted daily living and therapies. It is connected to the inpatient component with a public concourse that houses a pharmacy, gift shop and café. The inpatient component features 400 inpatient beds, maternity centre, oncology centre, emergency department, rheumatology, rehabilitation, elderly and palliative care. Surgery, imaging, endoscopy, catheterization labs and intensive care units are in a centralized hub that can be used by inpatient and outpatient sectors, creating a greater efficiency in equipment, staff and support services. The site offers an opportunity to create an environment that is closely linked with the natural woodland setting, providing serene views from bedrooms, and living areas.
Mayo Building, a new state-of-the-art education centre, has been delivered through PFI as part of an extensive restructuring of the Salford Royal site with the new buildings phased in such a way as to allow the hospital to remain fully functional throughout construction. The Mayo Building provides educational and clinical training facilities for staff, as well as some clinical support services including mortuary and aseptic services. The building, which features distinctive blue and grey cladding panels on the north elevation, is designed to provide an important new focus on the existing hospital site and relocates an existing patients and visitors’ car park which is to be relocated elsewhere on site. The block will also serve an important role in creating a cohesive health care campus, with its distinctive yellow rendered stair and lift core serving as a way-finding marker for the public to guide them onto and through the site.
Clinical skills training centre for enhancing staff knowledge
The Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust commissioned HKS to analyse and challenge the proposed design of the new build Women's and Children's Hospital. HKS were asked to bring their evidence based best practice, international experience, and research insights to strengthen and improve the proposed design and ensure that the facility would support clinical teams to deliver high quality care and services to their patients alongside staff wellbeing. We worked with the client to assess clinical flows and adjacencies across the site, connectivity of the proposed new development with the existing estate, and future expansion within a wider strategic master plan. An integral part of our work was to engage with clinicians to develop their clinical vision and clinical brief which would inform the design of the new facility for the future provision of care.
Standardised design approach for emergency RAAC replacement
HKS was commissioned by Camden and Islington Community Solutions to undertake a feasibility study to assess the development viability for a mental health facility, community hospital and rehabilitation centre, as well as a children’s centre on the city centre site of St Pancras Hospital. The work included an analysis of the existing estate and the efficiency and effectiveness of those services already provided. The development design had to consider private residential accommodation on certain parts of the site and the conversion of existing buildings for private sector use to help secure further funding for health care development.
Developing spaces for comprehensive care
HKS worked with a private cancer care provider to develop several building solutions across multiple locations as part of their expansion strategy. The flagship building establishes a world-leading facility for oncology care. The aspirations for this flagship development included clinical excellence, design quality and sustainability with integration of the latest digital technologies, all paramount for the facility to be a destination location for cancer care. The overall provision of the services will be developed in collaboration with all the stakeholder partners to provide the latest service lines and model of cancer care.
Creating a destination cancer care centre
HKS recognises the need to support NHS trusts to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place. Well-planned and designed health facilities can improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The firm’s inclusive, performance-driven approach ensures that facilities will support our client's operations, values and vision for health care. To ensure this, integrating stakeholders, lean principles and performance metrics measure the meaningful impact to operational effectiveness, safety and improved outcomes. Using a proven process, HKS worked with the clinical team to understand the clinical service model and develop a framework to evaluate current facilities for suitability, paying consideration to patient flow, staff wellbeing and operational efficiency.
Flexible clinics for agile operations
