Maggies Forth Valley Centre, Cancer Care Central Scotland, Larbert Health Facility

Maggie’s Forth Valley : Cancer Care

Healthcare Building in Larbert, Central Scotland design by NORD Architects

26 Sep 2011

NORD announced as architects for Maggie’s Forth Valley

Design: NORD, architects

Maggie’s is delighted to announce that Glasgow architects NORD have agreed to design the Maggie’s Centre in the grounds of Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert.

Maggie’s Centre Forth Valley

The multi-award winning architects, established in 2002, are known for their unique buildings and for drawing their inspiration from social and cultural issues.

Their wide range of work has included the primary energy substation for the London Olympics, Govanhill Pool regeneration and The Hallion restaurant (both in Glasgow).

Director of NORD, Alan Pert said: “This is a fantastic way to celebrate 10 years of NORD and we look forward to working with the amazing team behind this network of centres. At a recent visit to the Maggies London Headquarters we came across a collection of architectural models of the various centres built over the years including Richard Murphy’s first one from 1996. It is an incredible achievement that so many of these buildings have been realised and to contribute to this vision is a huge privilege.”

The Forth Valley Maggie’s Centre is being built thanks to the principle funder, grant- making charity Walk the Walk who, have been able to support Maggie’s by money raised through The MoonWalk Edinburgh.

This will be the second time Walk the Walk have funded a new Maggie’s Centre. The first, Maggie’s Gartnavel in Glasgow, was opened last October.

Walk the Walk’s Chief Executive and founder Nina Barough said: “Walk the Walk are delighted that Nord have been chosen as the architects for Maggie’s Forth Valley centre and we all look forward to seeing the plans of what I know will be a beautiful, unique and ground breaking building, whilst embracing the Maggie’s ethos, and reflecting the care that this charity is renowned for. It is wonderful news and I feel very proud knowing that those affected by cancer in the Forth Valley will soon have a Maggie’s to turn to and that we helped make it happen.”

Maggies Forth Valley Centre at Larbert:

Gartnavel healthcare facility building photo © Adrian Welch, architect

Maggie’s Forth Valley is one of three new Maggie’s Centres currently in planning in Scotland.

The planned centre for Forth Valley will provide a service for anyone affected by cancer throughout the Forth valley area. Professor Fiona Mackenzie, Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley, said: “This is very exciting news for Forth Valley. I have no doubt that NORD will design a distinctive Maggie’s Centre for the grounds of the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital, which will create a unique environment, to support the many hundreds of people from across Forth Valley, who are treated for cancer every year”.

The site of the new centre is set within mature woodland and was previously occupied by the Royal Scottish National Hospital with seventy acres of stunning mixed tree woodland and an ornamental loch. The extensive pathways and woodland surrounding the site are maintained by Forestry Commission Scotland and visitors to the centre will be able to enjoy direct access to this amazing amenity. The centre will be a short walk form the new £300M Forth Valley Royal Hospital designed by Keppie, and minutes from the varied amenities of Larbert and Stenhousemuir.

The Maggies building will have opportunities to exploit the natural surroundings rather than the need to construct a new type of landscape for the building. NORD are looking to position the building next to the loch but the level changes across the site mean the building will also have a strong vertical presence and views to the Ochil Hills and the Forth Valley.

Maggie’s Chief Executive Laura Lee said: “We are delighted to announce Nord as architects for Maggie’s Forth Valley centre. “They are an inspirational and contemporary company who draw their influences from social and cultural issues making them, in our eyes, the perfect fit for Maggie’s.
“Their selection has been a cause for great excitement and I can’t wait to see the plans for Forth Valley and eventually to welcome another thought provoking, warm and welcoming Maggie’s centre into the world.”

Maggies Forth Valley Centre, Cancer Care in Larbert building image / information from Maggie’s Centre

Architecture in Strathclyde

Beatson Institute

photograph © Paul Zanre
Beatson Institute Glasgow

27 Sep 2011

Maggie’s Centre Gartnavel

Review by Adrian Welch of Maggie’s Centre Gartnavel designed by OMA

The latest Maggie’s Centre to open in the UK is in the grounds of Gartnavel Hospital in northwest Glasgow, close to the Beatson, Scotland’s leading oncology facility. It is the second Maggie’s Centre in Glasgow, an area with a high incidence of cancer.

photo © Adrian Welch