Hull Royal Infirmary New Main Entrance

The Brief

Hull Royal Infirmary’s main building was an excellent example of the 1960s central and iconic landmark for the hospital and the surrounding area. Practice has moved on hugely since the original designs and the inadequate size and provision of the main entrance was a clear candidate for improvements to reach for appropriate and forward-looking healthcare provision.

The Design

Our designs were curated following a year of collaboration with key stakeholders, including staff and patients, to ensure the new entrance is a welcoming, contemporary and fit-for-purpose environment.

The ambition for the new main entrance focused on improving the arrival experience and creating a stronger frontage to the hospital. The existing entrance was set-back and uninviting causing confusion for patients and visitors. By extending the façade line closer to the site boundary and adding a striking, splayed footprint with glazed façade we’ve created a welcoming frontage, which guides visitors to the building entrances.

Two new entrances have been created to address the two main directions of approach, further easing movement around the site and reducing stress as visitors now have a clear entry point.

The Outcome

The previous interior was prone to congestion particularly at the main stair and lift core. In the new main atrium a new central free-standing stair and lifts offers fast-track access to the upper floors.

The stairs forms a key visual element which helps clarity of way-finding, aiding its usage, easing congestion into the tower, whilst adding warmth and materiality to the heart of the atrium. A further design detail of this staircase is the inclusion of perspex stair risers which promotes visibility and light throughout the circulation areas.

Passing through landscape creates a calming and welcoming arrival, the new entrance addresses the two main directions of approach, guiding visitors naturally to a the atrium, comprising waiting areas, coffee outlets, a reception and faith accommodation.