Challenge

The University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre is the biggest and most ambitious hospital construction project in the history of the NHS. It is a purpose-designed building and the first new NHS hospital to be developed in England in the 21st century.

The five-storey building was designed for a modern approach to cancer care. Natural light would flow from the glass roof throughout an atrium, and open space on the rooftop would provide a “healing garden” for patients, families, carers and staff.

The distinctive suspended glass roof meant that the rooftop Squire Garden required specially designed planters in which to arrange all of its trees and greenery. The planters would have to be lightweight and custom-made for exact positioning on the glass roof’s slim purlins.

Solution

Due to the company’s problem-solving and engineering expertise, and its use of innovative construction materials, Livingreen Design was commissioned to develop, engineer, manufacture and install the bespoke collection of tree planters and planting beds.

The company dealt with all of the necessary calculations and CAD work to produce viable shop drawings.

Every planter was custom built to exceptionally fine tolerances.

The planters included a consistent run of matching units around the perimeter of the roof garden terrace. They had the same front-facing appearance and lined up cleanly, even though in some places they had to be built to fit around pillars or have differently positioned supporting elements for precise location on the network of beams.

Livingreen made the planters using Advanced Composite GRP materials to balance all of the requirements of strength, durability, frost-resistance, quality of finish and lightweight construction.

Many of the perimeter planters also incorporated discreet lighting elements.

In addition, the company supplied planters for the building interior, including matching series of blank boxes for concealing planter irrigation services.

Outcome

Livingreen’s own professional product designers supplied the engineering and production skills needed to realise the concept of the therapeutic rooftop Squire Garden.

The bespoke system of planters that the company delivered formed an integral part of the roof garden, which, together with the innovative glazing system, contributed to the hospital’s successful early delivery on its environmental targets.

The project was exactly in line with the wider objectives of providing the highest level of patient care and comfort alongside excellent building energy efficiency.