The brief for Connah’s Quay Primary care Resource Centre in Flintshire was for a scheme very much linked to the Community it serves, a quality contemporary facility integrating users and the community in a development to promote future regeneration in the local area. Designed to house three GP practices, Health visitors, District Nurses, Pharmacy and space for the Voluntary Sector the scheme also creates shared spaces which will promote future amalgamation and integration of the user groups.
The massing of the building and its site placement enhance existing site circulation and permeability providing opportunity to encourage additional connectivity and regeneration of surrounding residential and commercial areas. Where the site bounds residential ownership the mass of the form has been kept low whilst the elevation adjacent the retail rises to three storeys. A separate building on the site houses the pharmacy and the Town Council offices and the Voluntary Sector run Café can be accessed externally as well as internally from the Centre entrance.
This mix of uses encourages diversity and activity and provides additional uses and value to the wider community. Materials at ground floor are robust with softer lighter finishes at high level. Internally the two wings of the building encircle central courtyards providing natural daylight and ventilation to internal clinical spaces. The public and secondary waiting areas also benefit from their location adjacent to the courtyards.
Linking these two wings a three storey atrium creates a strong vertical emphasis and visual connection between floors whilst reception areas are presented immediately upon arrival at each level welcoming and orientating visitors to the centre. The scheme was completed in June 2010 and surrounding regeneration is ongoing. By respecting the existing culverted stream a natural link between the High Street Retail and the Resource Centre has been defined and a new pedestrian route through the adjacent commercial site is currently underway.