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Atrium in Waikato Hospital a knockout
Media Release
Date: 22 June 2012
WAIKATO HOSPITAL
ATRIUM A "KNOCK OUT COMBINATION"
They thought of everything – even the surface
material is permanently anti-bacterial and easy to
clean.
This clever design aspect is just part of the reason that the Atrium in Waikato Hospital’s Acute Services Building was a stand-out winner in the New Zealand Fly Forbo 2012 Awards.
The architectural awards are held in Australia and New Zealand annually, with the Acute Services Building Atrium taking out the New Zealand award with ease.
The Atrium was completed as part of Waikato District Health Board’s $430m building and redevelopment programme, in 2011.
It was designed by CJM (a joint venture between Chow:Hill, Jasmax Limited and McConnel Smith & Johnson).
“We wanted an inviting, relaxing space with a strong identity that related back to the local environment, to give people a sense of comfort and ownership,” said Waikato DHB Health Facility Planner, Helena Berard.
“We wanted to create an outlook from the patient bedrooms, and to provide natural light for the bedrooms.
“It was key to use a product that would be durable and easy to look after – marmoleum met that requirement – while also allowing the area to maintain a bright uplifting interior space to be used by patients, staff and visitors.”
Fly Forbo judge and Architectural Media editorial director Cameron Bruhn, said that the bold swathes of vivid colour and dramatic shapes create a visually exciting landscape [in the building].
“This is a dynamic, lively and uplifting space that is so much more welcoming and exciting than traditional institutional surroundings.”
“People attending acute care facilities are usually at a very stressful period of their lives,” said Forbo Flooring Systems managing director Wayne Donovan.
“This monolithic design brings character, warmth and life to the space, as well as providing some comforting privacy.
“The fact that the surface material chosen is permanently anti-bacterial, easy clean and sustainable just adds to the design’s value and functionality. It is a knock-out combination.”
“Usually atriums are large spaces that people feel quite threatened to enter. Our design expresses the colours and undulations of farmland and rolling hills central to the Waikato area’s identity,” said CJM joint project director Marko den Breems.
Check out photos of the Acute Services Building and other major building works taking place at Waikato Hospital: http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/page/pageid/2145838699/Building_Programme
ENDS
Check out our media releases on www.waikatodhb.health.nz/news or
About Waikato District Health Board and Health
Waikato:
Waikato
DHB is responsible for planning, funding and
providing quality health and disability support services for
the 372,865 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has
an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than
6000 people.
Health
Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital
and health services with an annual budget of more than $701
million and 5238 staff. It has six groups across five
hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing
care facilities and 20 community bases offering a
comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary
health services.
A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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