LOW IMPACT
The building was designed with most departments on two of its three levels, and with a low profile to ensure minimal impact on its surrounding landscape
T
he new Velindre Cancer Cancer Centre currently under construction in the west of Cardiff is a low-rise, elegant building with lofty ambitions to be the UK’s most sustainable hospital yet. This hope rests on the design by White Arkitekter which presents a building fabric designed for health both environmental and for users, with a hybrid structure consisting of a CLT timber framed core and a mix of concrete and hempcrete wings. The emphasis is on a “harmonious environment for patients, visitors and staff” which harnesses the benefits of timber for creating a warm, calm feel that’s something of a rarity for health buildings of this type in the NHS. The building also prioritises daylight, views and natural materials, all of which are enhanced by the extensive exposed timber surfaces in public areas. Its breathable structure will assist both the facility’s sustained efficiency and users and staff enjoyment of the spaces. Key moves to further reduce the building’s carbon score include prioritising
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local sourcing, all-electric heating, and circular economy principles employing low- carbon materials and offsite methods. In addition, it is the project investors Kajima Partnerships’ goal to make “minimal impact on the surrounding countryside.” Kajima led the Acorn Consortium which was appointed to build the facility following a public procurement process run by Velindre University NHS Trust; consisting of several firms including White Arkitekter, main contractor Sacyr UK, Kier Facilities Services, and Camlins Landscape Architects. The project is based on a “mutual investment model” undertaken between the consortium and the Welsh Government, who were driving it centrally as a major infrastructure scheme for Wales. There has been controversy around escalating build costs, with the project reportedly due to cost significantly more than the £562m it was priced at when initially tendered in 2021. However despite this, the architects and project team have achieved a remarkable feat in not only securing the
ADF OCTOBER 2024
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