Moorfields Eye Hospital

City Road, London, United Kingdom

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Moorfields Eye Hospital

City Road, London, United Kingdom

Type

Government + Health › Medical Facility

YEAR

2007

Public Access Improvements
The principal entrances to the Outpatients areas of the hospital were either up a flight of steps or a very steep ramp, neither of which complied with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and both of which were poorly marked, a particular concern for a facility for those with visual impairment. The team’s brief was, therefore, to create a single point of access to remodelled reception areas incorporating a landmark canopy.
Working closely with Sonnemann Toon Architects, MBP designed the canopy structure to bear on the existing substructure to avoid the need to form new foundations and to be entirely separate from the existing terracotta façade. Excessive length of ramp was avoided by making use of the existing variations in ground level which also made it possible for able bodied and wheelchair visitors to use the same route into the building. The paving and canopy both incorporated lighting to extend the "green line" from Old Street tube station which serves to guide the visually impaired to the hospital.
In addition to designing the basic structure of the canopy and internal modifications to the building, MBP worked with the architect and the fabricator, Firmans, to resolve the best way to fabricate, erect and clad the frame with stainless steel panels.