Ancoats Medical Centre, Manchester

MAST Lift PCT

The proposed one stop primary healthcare facility is located on a site bounded by Old Mill Street and Cardroom Road, Ancoats designated within the New Islington Masterplan.

The accommodation is arranged on 3 floors, with the principal health care accommodation located at the ground and first floors and a basement plant level, with a total gross external area of 2304m² and principally situated off the new back of pavement line to Old Mill Street at the junction with Vesta Street. The area of the site behind encompasses both secure public and staff parking facilities serving the healthcare facility and an access road off Old Mill Street to serve the designated facilities of the health centre and the New Islington Masterplan. Although located on raised ground, where the building acts as a marker in the landscape of the Masterplan, principal-level access is achieved to the main entrance doors.

The proposed building is one of the catalysts for regeneration and whose elevation to Old Mill Street forms a new frontage together with the retail units in the adjacent plot over the new canal. The entrance to the health centre is set in this elevation. The upper accommodation line is cut back revealing a light well over the entrance, the revealed planes reflecting light and signifying the entrance. An articulated canopy also articulates the façade to the entrance and shopfront to the retail unit. The proposals essentially comprise of 2 buildings with an atrium space between them. The wings are deliberately set at irregular angles to maintain the freedom of expression of the other proposals in the Masterplan. Between the 2 wings of accommodation, the significant public area of the building with the reception and waiting areas is located, set at the centre of the building with a full-height glazed façade overlooking the new canal. To the upper floor is a gallery to the secondary support facilities in the health centre. At either end, the vertical circulation is logically located.

It is intended the building appears both welcoming but has inherent integrated security measures to ensure it also meets the criteria of being a secure public facility. As the building is located on columns over the car park, the majority of the elevations are inaccessible. Where the ground floor is accessible, the façade is clad in material that would be easily maintainable. Where windows are accessible, shutters are located which can be closed to maintain security.

The landscape proposals are intended to compliment the building and provide a suitable setting for the healthcare facility within the overall context of the New Islington Masterplan.