ORTUS, home of Maudsley Learning is a 1,550sqm pavilion housing learning and event facilities, cafe and exhibition spaces. The central focus of this unique project, initially coined ‘Project Learning Potential’, is to create a totally immersive learning environment generating a series of interconnecting spaces to encourage intuitive learning activities either in groups or individually and also to create possibilities for digital learning via social media.
The project was initially developed through an 18 month immersion process involving research and consultation workshops with user groups, Kings College Hospital, the Institute of Psychiatry and community groups, with Duggan Morris Architects commissioned to develop the client’s brief. This process was ultimately captured through a series of ‘Vision Statements’, which guided the wider team through the project providing a constant reference point during the design development stages.
The building is now home to Maudsley Learning, a Community Interest Company which has been set up to run the building. It’s vision is to raise knowledge and awareness of mental health and wellbeing which it intends to achieve through the building, through the development of a virtual learning environment and the creation of learning events focusing on mental health and wellbeing across a broad audience. The building was delivered through a PPC 2000 Partnering project, tailored for Construction Management procurement. It was delivered on time and on budget. As a highly sustainable building it is designed to BREEAM excellent standard and has an ‘A’ energy rating.
Maudsley Charity
The client, Maudsley Charity, is a charitable foundation which invests in projects to support improved mental healthcare, well-being, research, training and development. Maudsley Charity is investing in the redevelopment of the teaching and learning facilities at the Maudsley campus for the benefit of SLaM NHS Foundation Trust and in support of its role in Kings Health Partners. King’s Health Partners is an Academic Health Sciences Centre that comprises SLaM NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College London, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The aim of King’s Health Partners is to ensure research is applied more effectively within clinical services so the aspiration of ‘from bench to bedside’ becomes a reality.
