Ridge Hill Mental Health Facility

This project involved the creation of a unique purpose-designed and built facility to support carers, families, and individuals with learning disabilities living within the local community. It consisted of two linked buildings comprising inpatient accommodation, a short-term break, a therapy unit, 12-bed semi-secure accommodation, sensory therapy, group therapy, and consulting rooms.

Elementa Consulting provided a full range of mechanical and electrical services for the project, including passenger lift, CCTV, security, access control, lighting, power, pinpoint 600 staff attack, above ground drainage, hot and cold water with remote electronic isolation, and hydrotherapy unit. Elementa Consulting worked closely with the PCT, LIFTCo, and design team to agree on the security, clinical, and methodology of how the building systems would work in practice.

By increasing the natural ventilation and reducing the need for mechanical ventilation, the initial costs and running costs have been reduced substantially. The project team agreed on the need to maximize daylight within circulation spaces. The final solution resulted in large clear story windows being provided along primary corridor routes, enhancing the internal aesthetics and significantly improving the natural ventilation strategy. The early agreement and proactive approach have delivered a building with minimal defects.