On Site Urgent Treatment Centre at the RVI

On Site Urgent Treatment Centre at the RVI

The new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at the Royal Victoria Infirmary has been designed to relieve pressure on the existing Emergency Department by offering urgent care for patients with minor but pressing injuries or illnesses, in a separate and purpose-built space away from major emergencies.

Located directly adjacent to the Emergency Department, the centre provides a single point of access for urgent and emergency care, including a new shared entrance, reception, and dedicated waiting areas for each care pathway. The development introduces modern clinical spaces specifically designed to treat minor injuries and illnesses efficiently, safely, and comfortably.

The site posed a number of technical challenges, including building on an existing steel podium deck with weight constraints and structural limitations. Additionally, construction had to be carefully managed to ensure the Emergency Department remained fully operational throughout the works. The design solution responds sensitively to these constraints with a split-level layout. Clinical accommodation is located on the upper level, accessed via a central stair and lift core, while the lower level houses disposal and plant areas.

Architecturally, the centre is designed to be both distinctive and approachable. The undulating, sculptural aluminium fins create a sense of movement and directional flow, helping guide visitors clearly to the new ‘front door’. The single-storey curved form maintains a human scale and soft edge, nestled carefully between the taller Emergency Department and multi-storey car park.

Inspired by pavilion-style architecture, the building appears lightweight and low in scale, with a decorative form that sits comfortably within the existing hospital estate. The warm bronze tone of the cladding harmonises with the buff brick of the adjacent Leazes Wing and the more traditional stone buildings across the RVI site.

The development will be a fantastic asset to the local community by supporting patients to receive the right care, by the right person, in the right place, as quickly as possible.

28th May 2025

1st May 2025

A visit to site with members of the P+HS team and several of our Northumbria mentee students, a valuable opportunity to learn more about the development and see first-hand how the project is progressing.