Step Exhibitions
Royal Bolton Hospital: Rivington Unit Refurbishment – Greenmount Projects
Nominee Information
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s (GMMH) required its Rivington Unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital to undergo an modern refurbishment. The Unit is a specialist mental health facility with inpatient wards and clinics, as well as the base for outpatient appointments for a number of different conditions, including dementia and complex care, psychiatry of substance misuse and learning disability.
It had grown tired looking and deleterious to the treatment and recovery of its users, as well as to the well-being of staff. The aim was to rejuvenate the Unit, incorporating more natural light and intuitive wayfinding and, in creating a better working and therapeutic environment, it would help transform not only the outcomes and experiences of patients but also of staff.
The refurbishment of the reception area, three wards and six bath/shower rooms between November 2023 and April 2024, costing £1.1m, had the added challenge of happening while the Unit remained fully operational. It started with a complete removal of all existing fittings and fixtures, taking it back to a bare shell and replacing a large proportion of the first fix electrical and mechanical elements. This was followed by a new ceiling grid installation throughout, as well as plastering and, decoration to make it lighter, more colourful and inviting. Then followed the second fix electrical and mechanical elements, including charging points for visitors; flooring installation; and custom joinery – bench seating, slatted panelled walls, reception desk – all handmade, using sustainable materials from our inhouse joinery division.
We created a feature wall with different layers and colours to mimic a hillside effect which drew inspiration from nearby Rivington Pike. We turned two existing unused clinical rooms into a faith room which we clad with digital images of natural, wooded surroundings tying in with the Rivington Park theme, with carpets laid to point to Mecca – offering an important new service; and an ablution room allowing users to wash in comfort before prayer. Patients are only one side of the operation and we also improved staff areas – shower and toilet facilities and a canteen. We also refurbished the external bin store to separate hospital waste in an environmentally friendly manner; the Unit entrance with a large, glazed steel canopy replacing an unused ‘lean to’ ambulance drop-off; a full roof replacement to future proof the building; installation of perimeter fencing with a grass verge.
The refurbishment of the Unit has created a safe and welcoming environment for vulnerable people to access the care and support they need. It has made the space more functional, comfortable and restorative. The reception is now an orientation zone for visitors, staff, and service users and the whole project has ushered in a new standard of mental health care facilities. We were able to respond quickly to design changes and the needs of the client and within budget. The success of the project is reflected in the fact that the Capital Projects Manager now uses us directly when requiring further refurbishment and improvement elsewhere on the site.
