Designing the First WELL Gold Certified Healthcare Building in the UK

Assura Cramlington 11

Designing the First WELL Gold Certified Healthcare Building in the UK

The Northumbria Health and Care Academy has made history by becoming the first healthcare building in the UK to achieve Gold WELL Certification™ from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). This prestigious recognition underscores the Academy’s dedication to promoting health, wellbeing, and sustainability through innovative design and operational excellence.

Leading on the design, we collaborated with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Assura plc to develop the £32 million facility which is located on the site of the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington. Constructed by Meldrum Group and supported by Hilson Moran, who acted as WELL Accredited Professionals, the Academy stands as a testament to the power of purposeful design in shaping healthier spaces for work, learning, and patient care.

Built with a holistic approach to health, the Academy was assessed against 10 key WELL concept areas, Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, and Community and since opening in June 2024, more than 3,000 students and staff have benefited from this space which has wellbeing at its core – from the availability of healthy food choices to a nature walking trail on site.

Now more than ever, it is clear that the environments where we live, work, and heal have a profound impact on both mental and physical health. With this in mind, the Academy was designed to prioritise wellbeing from the outset, integrating features that enhance comfort, reduce stress, and support those who use the space daily.

Sharon Cook, healthcare lead and project designer, commented: “Making sure the Academy met the needs of those who would be using it was a key priority for us during this project and we collaborated closely with end users to design a space that truly supports their health and well-being. Guided by the principles of WELL, we incorporated features such as a calming, nature-inspired interior palette, expansive floor to ceiling windows to maximise natural light, and communal outdoor garden spaces to promote health and restoration. This certification underscores the meaningful impact this award-winning facility will have on both the workforce and patients, setting a benchmark for future healthcare environments.”

Emma Dawes, the trust’s head of nursing, midwifery and allied health professional education and workforce development, said: “The Academy is part of a commitment by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to develop its staff and grow its own workforce for the future – and embedding wellbeing is a critical part of this. We’ve had really positive feedback on the facility since it opened in June, but to be the first healthcare building in the UK to receive Gold WELL Certification really highlights the impact we’ve made.”

Designing places that enhance lives central to what we do, and what we have done for 40 years. This focus on building sustainably for people and planet isn’t new to us and back in 2009, we designed Houghton Primary Care Centre, the first NHS building in the UK to achieve BREEAM Outstanding, bringing medical care and wellness within a sustainable development close to the community it serves.

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