Cambridge Children’s Hospital Will Elevate Pediatric Care

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridgeshire University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are planning to construct a £671 million ($910.4 million) children’s hospital in association with the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Designed by Hawkins\Brown and White Arkitekter, the 373,507-sf facility will offer 187 beds in total, with 108 for inpatient use, 16 dedicated to pediatric care, and 42 day-case beds. Seven operating rooms will be accompanied by imaging and diagnostic suites, as well as a hospital school. A 53,820-sf research institute will be embedded in the six-story structure to foster collaboration between university scientists and NHS clinicians. 

Positioned on the Cambridge Biomedical Research Campus, the pioneering development’s spatial organization will support a high degree of integration, including resource sharing between departments, the consolidation of staff from multiple dispersed sites, and a connection from the first floor to The Rosie Hospital. Mental and physical health units will be colocated on each level, creating the opportunity for novel insights. The building’s holistic typology will enable the establishment of cross-disciplinary correlations and greater operational efficiency.

Targeting BREEAM Excellent, the sustainably designed facility will aim for net-zero-carbon performance throughout its lifespan. The hospital's structural grid and façade will be optimized to limit embodied carbon while allowing for adaptability and reducing operational load. Courtyards and lightwells will provide extensive natural illumination and fresh air circulation. As well as enhancing patient wellbeing, outdoor biophilic environments will promote climate resiliency through the selection of native tree and plant species. 

Bouygues UK is the general contractor, with Ramboll supplying engineering and sustainability services. The project team also includes Turner & Townsend, Mace, MJ Medical, EDGE, and Bidwells.