The London Institute for Healthcare Engineering Shortlisted at the Scottish Design Awards 2025

Located at the heart of the historic Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital campus in London, LIHE is a state-of-the-art research and innovation hub where medicine and education converge to directly benefit patient outcomes. The project responds to its complex urban setting with sensitivity and purpose, surrounded by Grade I and II listed buildings, LIHE’s contemporary design and material choices are deeply informed by the surrounding architecture, offering a modern expression that remains connected to its historic context. 

At the core of LIHE is the “Research Eco-system” concept. The building brings together a diverse mix of clinicians, academics, engineers, entrepreneurs, and industry specialists, creating a collaborative environment that supports rapid healthcare innovation. Insights gathered through our digital engagement tool, HLM Insight, revealed that researchers place high value on stable temperatures, natural ventilation, biophilic design, and external views—each of which has been thoughtfully integrated into the final design. 

Designed for adaptability, LIHE empowers users with complete design freedom to shape and reconfigure spaces in line with changing research needs. Its open floorplates act as dynamic stages, capable of accommodating evolving team structures and workflows. From open-plan collaboration zones to private research areas, the building’s flexibility encourages both innovation and efficiency, accelerating the translation of ideas into prototypes and delivering long-term social value. 

Sustainability is a key feature of LIHE. The building is BREEAM Excellent certified and meets the London Plan’s net zero-carbon requirements, achieving over 35% reduction in regulated carbon emissions beyond current Building Regulations. This is realised through a mix of photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps, and a passive façade design that maximises daylight and minimises overheating. LIHE has also been awarded an EPC A rating, underlining its status as King’s College London’s most sustainable building to date. 

Reflecting on the shortlisting, Claire Wakelin, Director, Head of Education, HLM Architects, commented: 

“We’re incredibly proud to see LIHE recognised at the Scottish Design Awards. It’s a project that embodies everything we stand for at HLM—collaboration, sustainability, and thoughtful, people-centred design. Congratulations to everyone involved in the design and delivery of this innovative MedTech hub.” 

The Scottish Design Awards celebrate creativity and excellence across architecture and design disciplines, and this shortlisting reinforces our commitment to delivering meaningful, high-impact environments across our key sectors and specialisms. The winners will be announce at the awards in Glasgow on the 25th of June, good luck to all the finalists.