A state-of-the-art animal hospital in the Midlands has earned recognition as part of a prestigious design award for architecture.
The purpose-built Linnaeus-owned West Midlands Referrals (WMR), near Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, was highly commended in the small to medium project category for ‘Excellence in Architectural Technology’ at the recent AT Awards.
WMR’ Clinical Director Jon Mills was heavily involved in the whole process and is delighted with the recognition for the hospital’s architects Urban Designs.
Jon said: “The building functions and flows really well, and we’re delighted with all the care and diligence that went into the design and planning.
“I have very fond memories of the conference room meetings during the build and we are chuffed to bits with our design team, with our architectural consultants Urban Designs and with our main contractor A&S Construction.
“I’m really delighted with the our finished product. There is no doubt that the building has the ‘wow-factor’.”
Urban Designs’ Chief Anthony Rice said: “The success of the project was due to delivering a building that truly meets its functional requirements.
“This was achieved by having a client in West Midlands Referrals, which spent endless hours with its team of veterinary practitioners, nurses and administration staff, to develop a clear brief.
“When concepts were proposed they evaluated these a number of times to ensure that the requirements were met and suited to the new facility.
“The building has been designed as a respectful response to the site context and part utilises the existing 19th Century building, Errisbeg House, whilst offering a single-storey extension in a rural-contemporary style, designed to house the hospital’s new clinical facilities.
“The design capitalises on the site’s natural lighting and views out towards the adjacent Trent & Mersey Canal and contains eye-catching architectural features such as the large glulam structures which protrude past the building’s front elevation and inform the large sweeping curved roof profile.
“The beautiful western-red cedar cladding emphasises the rural feel of the site, and epitomises the design concept of enabling the building to age naturally along with the rest of the site, while rain chains in place of downpipes to the principal elevation help to connect the building with its natural environment.”
WMR specialises in providing expert treatment in cases requiring orthopedic surgery, spinal surgery, soft tissue and general surgery as well as medical and ultrasonography cases.
For more information on West Midlands Veterinary Referrals visit: www.wm-referrals.com or search for West Midlands Veterinary Referrals on social media.
