Architects Portadown
Portadown Health and Care Centre is situated in Tavanagh Avenue in Portadown and consists of eight different GP practices. Recently the need arose to create a new building for the centre that would increase its ability to provide not only GP and social services but a wider range of community and specialist services. An architectural design competition was held, the winner of which was Avanti Architects with Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects, whose job it was to design the new centre.
A Modern Centre
The new Health and Care Centre, a new model in primary healthcare delivery, provides surgeries for all of the Portadown area’s General Practitioners. It also features a large array of specialist health care facilities such as state of the art consulting suites, minor surgical procedure facilities, dental facilities, a pharmacy, crèche facilities and even a café.
Here the people of Portadown can not only see their GP, but social workers, a dentist, a physiotherapist and a dietitian.
The new Centre, a compact three storey triangular building with rooms arranged around a central atrium is also a forward looking. It is bright and airy, naturally lit and ventilated and flexible in that both rooms and facilities can be easily changed to meet future requirements.
Accessibility For All
Accessibility is also a key feature of the new Centre. In order for members of the public to be able to gain access to the perimeter spaces, the architects designed both a lift and a flight of stairs situated at the very centre of the building’s atrium. From here bridges spin out across the atrium void to connect the lift and stair to the reception and waiting areas on the upper floors. These areas are pleasant and enjoyable for both staff and members of the public with views of the beautifully landscaped exterior of the centre and countryside beyond.
Another important objective in the design of the Centre was to make it easy for members of the public to find their way around the building. This concern was addressed not just by the simplicity of the architectural design but also aided by a clear colour coding and super graphic signage.
The design and creation of the new Portadown Health and Care Centre has been a massive success and it has further contributed to its on-going reputation as a superb healthcare provider.
Photographs by Paul Tierney Photography