NHS Foundation Trust

The Brief

Calderdale and Kirklees NHS Foundation Trust were relocating their acute and community health services clinic to a centralised facility at Bowling Mill, Dean Clough, Halifax. The facility covers two floors totalling 16,500sqft, with an outpatient assessment and ongoing treatment facility for clinical services and physiotherapy on the ground floor and associated office functions on the 4th floor.

Ben Johnson Interiors secured the project through a traditional tender and worked alongside the NHS Trust project team which included architect AFL Architects and mechanical and electrical contractor SDP to deliver the scheme as the main contractor.

Sector: Healthcare
Location: West Yorkshire
Business: Clinical services and Physiotherapy
Date: 2025
Size: 16500
Duration: 11 weeks

The Solution

Works consisted of CAT A&B fitout including all M&E modifications, ceilings, flooring, partitions, kitchen, clinics, treatment rooms & physiotherapy gym, acoustic treatments, signage and furniture. Integrated technology was a key factor within the design, the reception desk included cameras and security screens, direct lines to the nurse call stations, clinic rooms and fob security access systems on all doors.

Selection of finishes and attention to construction details was essential within this medical facility. All corridors were clad in specialist infection control wipeable cladding. AFL Architects made a feature out of this material within their design, selecting a range of colours and applying printed decorative graphics to the cladding. All flooring was high slip resistance, infection control, wipeable hard flooring. All exposed pipework was boxed in and sealed with specialist infection control silicon.

As a listed building, Dean Clough had beautiful exposed vaulted ceilings that the Trust wanted to retain where possible. The Trust also wanted to maintain the exposed bricks where possible, as the exposed bricks were listed, the project team worked with the heritage department to find a resolution and agreed to use a special sealing agent, which was applied to the brickwork to satisfy all parties. Other listed building restrictions included installing new partitions to both floors, retractable curtains in an infection control material were installed in all patient treatment rooms for confidentiality and comfort.

The Physiotherapy Department included a fully equipped physiotherapy gym for patient rehabilitation. To support the heavy physiotherapy gym equipment, it was determined that the existing raised floor was to be removed, the services relocated and the floor to be concrete screeded.

The fourth floor, previously used as office accommodation, allowed the Trust to reuse existing M&E services and selected meeting rooms while carefully working within the constraints of the listed building. Additional complementary meeting rooms and offices were introduced to support operational needs, with a deliberate move away from overly formal layouts. A variety of settings, including high tables and soft seating, were incorporated to give employees and outreach teams greater choice and flexibility in how they work.

Open-plan desking was punctuated with several breakout areas to encourage collaboration and support team interaction. Although the space is non-clinical, infection control remained a key consideration due to staff movement between floors. Retained vaulted ceilings and hard flooring were balanced with acoustic feature cladding to walls and ceilings, ensuring a comfortable working environment. Sustainability was central to the fit-out, with all furniture reused, donated or upcycled, supported by contributions from existing clients, the landlord and the Dean Clough Gallery, who also provided artwork to complete the space.

The Finished Project

The completed Bowling Mill facility delivers a high-quality, patient-centred healthcare environment that successfully brings together acute and community services within a complex listed building. The ground floor provides a calm and efficient setting for outpatient clinics, treatment rooms and physiotherapy, with integrated technology, clear wayfinding and infection-control-led materials throughout, while retained vaulted ceilings and exposed brickwork add character and warmth.

The fourth-floor office accommodation offers a flexible and supportive workspace for NHS staff and outreach teams, with a variety of meeting, breakout and collaboration areas designed to promote wellbeing and productivity. Sustainability underpins the scheme, with reused and upcycled furniture and donated artwork enhancing the environment without compromising quality. The project has been extremely well received by both patients and staff, and Ben Johnson Interiors are proud to have delivered a facility that sets a benchmark for future healthcare environments for Calderdale and Kirklees NHS Foundation Trust.

“The ground floor for patients has been well received, high quality environment which does not feel like a hospital, light airy space without feeling clinical. All staff are positive about the new environment, it brings a relaxed vibe, also with the meeting rooms offers loads of space for handovers and teams to be together. The Hive has become a modern place for lunch and fuddles when staff are
leaving or celebrating”

Jammal Mohammed
Senior Estates Officer
NHS Trust

The Brief

The Solution

The Finished Project

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