Leicester Royal Infirmary

Bowman Riley prepared several schemes for improvement works at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, centred around a new modular Children’s Development Centre on an existing car park site.

We designed the Children’s Development Centre to complement the modular construction method, using a render and brick slip façade to match the adjacent Windsor Building’s existing brick and concrete panelling aesthetic.

A new covered walkway leads from the car park to an entrance corridor, designed to draw visitors into the hospital. This connects to a two-storey reception and welcome building featuring a pharmacy and patient liaison offices within an existing courtyard.

The proposed walkway featured tensile sails in colours matching the new entrance building. It connected to the existing structure, resembling a long corridor divided into blocks of glazing, render, and pewter cladding for visual interest.

The pewter cladding complemented the nearby Accident & Emergency building. Perforated metal panels over lightboxes were added at the entrance for signage and wayfinding.

The reception building features an open atrium design to maximise natural light and create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors and patients. A natural palette of materials was chosen to provide a homely feel and reduce anxiety, avoiding a clinical atmosphere. The building also includes internal escalators to connect existing hospital departments, enhancing visitor experience and circulation.