Case Study
William Harvey Hospital ICU
01 / Case Study
William Harvey Hospital ICU
DSSR carried out the full mechanical and electrical design for a new modular intensive care unit at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent.
Location / Ashford, England
Contract Value / £37m
Architect / DAY Architecture Ltd
Client / MTX Contracts Ltd
Completion / 2020
02 / Overview
Overview of the William Harvey Hospital ICU project
The project was delivered during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the NHS was under immense pressure. The goal was to increase ICU capacity quickly and efficiently to meet urgent patient care demands.
Facility Design and Layout
The new two-storey unit includes a 24-bed intensive care ward, along with support spaces such as offices, staff changing rooms, and training areas. Two plant rooms were incorporated into the design to support the ICU’s complex building services needs. The layout was developed to prioritise clinical flow, infection control, and ease of maintenance.
Modular Construction on a Steel Gantry
To reduce disruption to the existing hospital, the modular building was installed on a steel gantry structure. This allowed the new ward to connect directly to the first floor of the main hospital street, enabling smooth movement of patients and staff. The steel gantry approach also helped overcome site constraints and avoided impacting surrounding live wards.
Supporting NHS Response During COVID-19
DSSR is proud to have contributed to the NHS’s COVID-19 response by helping deliver a critical care facility at speed. Working alongside the Trust and delivery team, the design balanced urgency with technical performance—ensuring the ICU met all clinical and safety standards while being operational in a short timeframe.
