Girvan Community Hospital Award for Best Sustainable Design

A main facility in the south west Ayrshire community, the new Girvan Community Hospital houses 26 inpatient beds as well as a number of rehabilitation, primary care and social services.
While close attention was paid to the design of the building itself to ensure it promoted patient wellbeing, it is also helping towards future health outcomes through the approach of the project team towards sustainability.

Green technologies incorporated into the design include a 700kW biomass boiler, a rainwater recovery system, underfloor heating, infra red auto sensor taps and toilet flushes, wind turbines, daylight control lights, and there is maximisation of natural light and ventilation.
Achieving a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating for sustainability, and with a Simplified Building Energy Model calculation approaching zero status, landscaping is used across the site to provide links between spaces as well as provide somewhere for rest and relaxation.
The project team also used recycled aggregate concrete blockwork, fully-galvanised external steelwork and sourced all timber products from suppliers approved by the Forest Stewardship Council. In addition, a green travel plan encourages the use of more environmentally-friendly modes of travel among staff, patients and visitors.
As healthcare demands change in the future, the design allows for flexibility for extending the inpatient unit, with additional bedrooms able to be inserted at a later stage. The roof space also has the potential for future development.

Architect, Colin Miller, said: "Sustainability and lifetime cost analysis were considered at an early stage in the design process, with the key aim of creating a contemporary and modern building while minimising its carbon footprint and ongoing operational costs. A feasibility study was then undertaken to determine the most-appropriate design solutions to achieve these aims.
"Technologies include the wind turbine and biomass boiler, which should result in a saving over the first 20 years of some £1.6m. This figure is a conservative estimate and will increase significantly if energy costs continue to rise at their current rates
"During 2,300 hours of operation, the turbine has produced 56,600kW hours of energy, saving approximately 24,338kg of CO2 since first being switched on."

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