HBC Construction has completed The Spark, a £17m facility in Sheffield that will house the National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT).
The 43,000 sq ft building, at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, was delivered in partnership with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating. It is expected to become operational later this year.
The scheme was funded by Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.
The centre is intended to support the government’s ambition to move healthcare closer to communities, expand the use of digital technology and place greater emphasis on prevention alongside treatment.
Lee Powell, managing director at HBC, said: “We are proud to have successfully delivered the National Centre for Child Health Technology. It is a landmark and genuinely transformative project for the UK.
“Contributing to a facility that has the potential to change lives and improve outcomes for children and young people has been a truly rewarding journey for our team.
“We’ve built a strong working relationship with the Trust, founded on ambition, flexibility and close collaboration, and have together delivered the scheme to the exceptionally high standards it merits.”
The building’s completion falls during Sheffield Children’s 150th anniversary year, as the Trust prepares to bring the centre into full operation and expand its work with partners across healthcare, academia and industry.
Ruth Brown, chief executive at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The completion of Sheffield Children’s newest building, The Spark, is an important milestone for children and young people everywhere.
“As we celebrate 150 years of Sheffield Children’s, we are proud to open a new facility that will transform care today while also becoming the home of the National Centre for Child Health Technology, helping shape the future of children’s healthcare for generations to come.
“The Spark has been shaped through partnership, ambition and a shared belief that every child deserves the very best healthcare. Working with children and young people, clinicians, colleagues who support our services, and our construction partner, HBC Construction, we have designed and delivered a new space that will help us in our mission to create healthier futures for children and young people.”
During construction, representatives from HBC, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, SYMCA and Sheffield City Council – along with young people involved in the project – took part in a steel signing ceremony, writing their names and hopes for the future of healthcare onto the structure.
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