Akerman is the largest civic building to be constructed during the Myatts Field North Redevelopment neighbourhood regeneration project. Clinical services include 4 GP surgeries, dentistry, childrens’ services, sexual health services, midwifery, primary care and community health services. The Centre is also the base for Lambeth PCT’s nursing teams, including School Nurses, Health Visitors and District Nurses, and houses Lambeth Council Adult Services.
The 80m long building flanks a residential street to the east and a local park to the west. The design takes its cue from the massing of a church and the order of a flat-fronted London terrace. A sequence of precast concrete arches unites the varied uses, including a car park, at street level. The centre arch and “crossing” overhead (the 4th floor plant room) mark the entrance. The entrance hall, entered both from the street and the park, bisects the plan dividing the building in two. Inside clinical clusters, office accommodation and staff facilities are deployed in wings north and south of the entrance, main stair and lifts.
Externally, the building plays on its simple massing, the quality of the white brickwork and the arrangement, size and nature of the bronze-anodised aluminium windows. Inside spaces are daylit, and where possible naturally ventilated. The scheme employs a biomass boiler.
Akerman Road PCC has been designed to create a calm and therapeutic healthcare environment, an exemplary working environment for staff, and for ease of adaptability. The Centre has in addition been planned for secure out-of-hours community use.
The £12.4 million building was procured for the NHS/ Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham LIFT Company by Building Better Health and was completed in August 2012.
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