Mar 11 2005
Certain colours have always been associated with specific moods and emotions and this basic principle has played a fundamental role in the design of the brand new £12 million Milton Keynes Treatment Centre. Incorporating Colorcoat Celestia® by Corus in the green shades of Juno and Pegasus, the exterior cladding has created an uplifting environment that is believed to be conductive to patients’ recovery.
Architects, Nightingale Associates, tried a number of colour combinations from the extensive range offered by Corus before selecting Juno and Pegasus as the ideal colour scheme for the building façade. Panels in each colour were mixed across the exterior creating a chequerboard effect that complimented the seemingly random window positioning of the building. Paul Menadue from Nightingale Associates commented: “Colorcoat Celestia was used boldly to create a contrast that provides a range of vibrant tones, the antithesis of a traditional and conventional healthcare establishment. Its metallic qualities offer resonance and vibrancy to the building, intended to uplift patients and visitors”.
With the old hospital constructed from the Oxford 6M system in trapezoidal metal cladding panels in yellow, with red window surrounds, it was important that the new centre had its own identity and was distinct from its surroundings. By providing an attractive metallic effect with the outstanding depth of finish and distinctive sparkle of Celestia, the ideal design solution for the project was created. Applied in a striking manner, the cladding was fixed vertically to break up the horizontal shape of the elevations and then split horizontally by a contrasting flashing strip with the vertical cladding panels offset to each other.
Colorcoat Celestia by Corus also enjoys the additional benefit of the Confidex® guarantee, which is the most comprehensive guarantee in the UK for pre-finished steel products giving up to 21-years cover directly to the building owner.
Part of Milton Keynes General Hospital, the centre has been designed to treat day surgery patients, where recovery times from operations are less than 24 hours. This forms part of a new initiative to reduce hospital waiting lists by giving hospitals the capability of treating a large number of patients requiring comparatively minor surgery, with colour playing an important role in their recovery. The sponsorship by Corus of a series of artworks inside the building reinforces the theme and adds to the overall feel of the building. Further details of this project are detailed in a case study in the Colorcoat Building Manual, which is available is available to everyone who registers with the Colorcoat Connection® helpline on +44 (0)1244 892434 or email [email protected].