The Site
Stoke Mandeville Hospital occupies a site approximately 3 miles from the centre of the town of Aylesbury. The Hospital covers 72 acres of land and is believed to be one of the largest hospitals in Europe. The Hospital was founded in the 1930’s and during the Second World War and was expanded dramatically by the Canadian and British forces.
‘The New Wing’ - Unit 69
During the late sixties, the Ophthalmic Unit (Unit 57) was erected at Stoke Mandeville hospital utilising the Oxford Method (OM) building format. ‘The New wing’ and Unit 67 followed shortly being constructed during the 1970’s. The method of construction utilised for the three units were a mixture of OM building systems 2M and 3M with the essential difference being the centres of the steel columns. Further details of the systems can be viewed on the OMR website.
The ‘New Wing’ is primarily a single and two-storey building with a separate 3-storey storey service tower. Large canopies extend over the A&E and main entrances and a number of external steel framed staircases provide access to the roof level. The building is essentially steel framed with 152 x 152 x 37kg universal columns at approximately three metre centres with a secondary rectangular steel column positioned either side of the expansion joint. A grillage of steel joists span between the columns and provide support to the existing wall cladding were necessary. The roof is typically a steel metal deck with an insulation layer and weathered with roofing felt. Recessed rainwater gullies set in to the roof link to a hidden internal drainage system. The wall units comprise of pressed galvanised steel units with polyurethane foam insulation. The original windows and doors comprise of single glazed aluminium frames set within the wall units. The door and window units to A&E entrance and the main entrance have subsequently been replaced with powder coated aluminium glazed units with automatic opening mechanisms. Numerous external fittings, such as air conditioning units, lighting units, air vents and alarms have been fixed to the exterior of the building in various locations.
‘New Wing’ Layout Drawing
Adjacent Buildings
There are, adjacent to ‘The New wing’, an assortment of single and two storey brick built buildings, of varying ages and construction. Some of the buildings abut directly against the ‘New Wing’ and some are linked via covered walkways and corridors.
The Stoke Mandeville site is currently undergoing some local redevelopment incorporating a new four and two storey ward block, built adjacent and connecting to the Oxford Method ‘New wing’. The building has been constructed utilising a mixture of reinforced concrete, steel and clad in terracotta and aluminium cladding panels. We understand that this work will be completed later this year. The new ward is serviced by its own entrances, access roads, footpaths and is unlikely to have any significant impact on any works carried out to the ‘New Wing’.
©2004 Oxford Method Royalties Management Group