Designing with Purpose: Sustainability at the Heart of Cancer Care
As part of our Sustainability Day of Action, we were proud to host a dynamic discussion with the team leading one of NHS Wales’s most ambitious infrastructure projects: the new Velindre Cancer Centre.
In this session, we explored how the project is embedding sustainability at every stage, and what this means for the future of cancer care and healthcare buildings more widely.
Meet the Speakers:
Rhiannon Freshney, Sustainability Manager, Velindre University NHS Trust
Kate Hammond, Senior Engagement Manager, Transforming Cancer Services Programme
Building with Purpose - From Day One
The Velindre Cancer Centre isn’t just another new-build hospital; it’s a future-focused facility that’s placing patients, staff, the local community and the planet at the heart of its design. During the webinar, our speakers shared the collaborative and carefully considered approach that’s driving this landmark project forward.
Some key highlights:
Early-stage sustainability: Sustainability has been prioritised from the outset. The team worked from the RIBA Stage 1 brief to define key environmental goals and assess the building’s whole-life carbon. This approach helped shape decisions regarding energy, daylight, materials, and even mobility within the site.
Nature and biodiversity: The centre is situated in a complex and sensitive landscape, and the team has collaborated with local ecologists to safeguard species and design a space that enhances the natural environment, achieving a Biodiversity Net Gain.
·Resilience and futureproofing: The design doesn’t just meet today’s standards; it looks ahead to 2030 and 2050. From renewable energy sources to active travel links and adaptable spaces, the project is built with flexibility and longevity in mind.
Staff and patient wellbeing: From the architecture to the engagement strategy, the project has been shaped by the needs and insights of those who’ll use the centre every day. Connection to nature, light-filled spaces and accessible layouts have all been considered to enhance the quality of care and the working environment.
A replicable model: Most importantly, the team wants Velindre to set a precedent. By sharing challenges and successes openly, they hope to inspire and inform other NHS trusts embarking on their own net zero journeys.
“You Can’t Retrofit Sustainability into a Building.”
This quote from Rhiannon effectively sums up the project's ethos. Sustainability isn’t an afterthought; it’s a principle embedded in every design decision, every stakeholder conversation, and every material choice.
This insightful webinar left us feeling inspired, informed, and optimistic about what’s possible in healthcare infrastructure. Velindre proves that with the right people, the right values, and the right ambition, sustainability and excellence in care can go hand in hand.
Thank you once more to our incredible speakers, and wonderful audience for watching! We can’t wait to see you at our next event!