The Beacon Centre, Musgrove Park Hospital 

Our brief was to design and construct new units consisting of a two-storey building housing three linac bunkers, a new ST scanner, a new pharmacy, inpatient, outpatients and day patient facilities, a new reception and administrative facilities. The new unit is linked to the existing hospital at ground level and access within the building is achieved via either of the two lifts or central feature atria stairway complete with a glass lantern roof.

 

The main feature of the centre is the semi-circular atrium complete with curved staircase which is predominantly lit naturally by a glazed roof light lantern. This gives the new facility its reputation of being ‘The Beacon’. When lit up at night the lantern funnels the light out through the roof creating a beam of light, which is being interpreted by its uses and a ray of hope.