Reflecting on two decades of thoughtful design with Altnagelvin Hospital

Each phase of the redevelopment has carried the hospital’s values at its heart. From the light-filled South Wing—home to cutting-edge maternity, oncology, and cardiac care facilities—to the tranquil Endoscopy Unit thoughtfully woven around a peaceful courtyard, every space has been designed to place patient wellbeing first. Even the more discreet elements, such as the Mortuary, reflect a deeply considered balance of dignity, simplicity, and sensitivity.

The Multi-Storey Car Park and the welcoming, civic presence of the North Wing have played a vital role in improving the user journey. Originally scheduled for completion in June 2020, the North Wing was fast-tracked to April in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing urgently needed bed capacity. Delivered through a phased approach in close partnership with the Western Health and Social Care Trust. As the hospital’s main entrance, the North Wing stands proud with its white granite façade, forming the cornerstone of a modern, easy-to-navigate healthcare campus. The naturally lit atrium and intuitive wayfinding within reinforce the vision for a transparent, calming environment—one where patients, visitors, and staff feel cared for from the moment they arrive.

Perhaps the most impactful innovation to come from the North Wing remains the development of the eight-bed cluster layout within the 144 single bedrooms, a unique approach in healthcare design. We have long believed that patient-centred design can drive better outcomes, and this layout is proof of that belief in action. Drawing on the concept of a repeatable ‘interstitial’ format, we introduced a third room type and offset two bedrooms to create a space where nurses have full, unobstructed visibility of all eight rooms from a central point. Designed around perceptual and cognitive needs, the result is a ward environment that is responsive, adaptable, and always centred on the wellbeing of patients and staff alike.

Natural daylight and biophilic principles were central to our design ethos from the outset. By reducing the depth of the floor plate and adopting a single corridor layout, we ensured that light reaches deep into the building, creating bright, uplifting environments. Internal courtyards bring views of greenery into the heart of the hospital—an approach backed by strong research. As highlighted by the NHS Forest initiative, access to nature has a measurable impact on recovery, reducing patient stress, shortening hospital stays, and even lowering the need for pain medication.

A hospital is more than the sum of its buildings—it’s the journey to, through, and around it. From the moment someone steps out of their front door, their journey matters. That’s why reimagining the road layout, pedestrian routes, and surrounding landscape was such a vital part of the North Wing’s transformation.

The landscape strategy knits together the new North Wing entrance, the multi-storey car park, and the broader hospital campus. It brings logic and legibility to arrival spaces, integrates a green corridor and cycle path, and introduces a continuous pedestrian route that links key facilities with the Glenshane Road entrance.

And beyond, the architecture and landscape come together to create a true sense of place—functional, calming, and respectful of the community it serves.

As we look back on the evolution of Altnagelvin Hospital, we’re reminded of the power of thoughtful, human-centred design. This redevelopment has not only enhanced healthcare delivery for the region—it has redefined what’s possible in hospital architecture. We’re incredibly proud to have played a role in shaping a legacy that will serve generations to come, and we look forward to supporting the continued growth of the campus.