Bluebell Ward

The proposals included amendments to internal layouts, creating a series of en-suite bedrooms, clinical treatment spaces, communal areas, and ancillary staff accommodation. A new single storey, glazed link corridor was included within the design, providing improved access across and into the central courtyard. A modern landscape scheme was introduced to the courtyard, providing welcoming, usable outdoor space.

Dice undertook structural design of a new steel framed structure, supported on a raft foundation to form the new 20m long link corridor. The team also completed inspections of the existing building to determine structural systems and load paths. Subsequently structural advice was provided to the client regarding internal layout amendments, including the specification of additional structural support where required.

Our civils team provided design of new below ground surface water drainage and pavement foundation details to the courtyard space, as well as advising on amendments to below ground foul water drainage to accommodate the new building layouts.

Dice are proud to have delivered this scheme which provides a vital public health service to the residents of Chesterfield through refurbishment and re-purposing an existing building. This strategy has minimised embodied carbon compared to an equivalent new build facility. Refurbishment and re-purposing of existing buildings will play a vital role in the fight against climate change over the coming years. As per The Institution of Structural Engineer’s hierarchy of design measures to tackle the current climate emergency, refurbishment and re-purposing of existing building stock is just one way that the industry can play its part to reduce emissions and bring us one step closer to net zero by 2050.