Brierley Hill Health Centre

This project is a new 118,000 ft² health center including doctor’s primary care practices, dental practices, pharmaceuticals, opticians, and other retailers, including an underground car park.

It was originally envisaged that this facility would be a fully mechanically ventilated building. At the early stages of the design, Integral Group carefully analyzed the layout and room adjacencies to determine whether the reliance on full mechanical ventilation was necessary.

Detailed thermal modeling demonstrated that 50% of the building could be naturally ventilated by re-arranging internal spaces. This resulted in significant capital cost reduction, an improved internal environment for users, reduction in plant space, and significant savings in maintenance and life–cycle costs. This project went on to win the Design Award at the National LIFT Awards.

Our work on this project included the provision of all mechanical, electrical, and above-ground drainage design. Energy saving strategies included low energy lighting and maximization of natural daylight; dynamic thermal modeling to utilize the form of the building; and a natural ventilation strategy that ensured the building complied with the NHS’s stringent internal environmental policy.