Main Contractor: Bouygues U.K.

This ambitious project will create a world-leading centre for eye health, research and education. The design is sympathetic to the existing period buildings around it. The new building will rise from seven storeys to ten storeys on the north wing.

The design includes controlled environments and specialist clean rooms—to support precision ophthalmic procedures and research activities.

The base of the building has a glazed facade to give good daylight to the building without glare or overheating and allow thermal insulation for efficient energy use. The spacious atrium at the heart of the building is surrounded by clinical, research and education spaces

The outside of the building is comprised of ceramic panels, aluminium glass and wood.

The building has a reinforced concrete frame, with a vibration strategy to mitigate the effects of structure-borne vibration to a level acceptable to the building end users and their associated equipment.

The centre is also being designed with flexibility in mind to ensure the building adapts to future needs. Construction started in 2023 with full transition to be completed in 2027.

The building is targeted to achieve “Excellent” in BREEAM assessment, with an aspiration to utilise a high level of cement replacement and recycled aggregate where possible to reduce embodied carbon within the structure.