The session focused on masterplanning for the Royal Liverpool University Foundation Hospital. Joe Smith, Associate Planner at Avison Young kicked things off with a comprehensive project timeline which stretches back to 2008. Louise Sheridan, Director of Ellis Williams Architects then talked through the history of the local area, the scale and ambition of the project and the process of masterplanning and its complexities.
The cohort was then split into groups to begin their site analysis of the former hospital and the surrounding area. Tasking them to work through the prompt sheet to create their own colourful key, identifying key buildings, transport links, as well as the sun path and green spaces. Once the site was broken down, we outlined the project’s priorities, from a life sciences laboratory to a multi-storey car park. The young people were also asked to identify and design a space and/or building they thought would benefit the project and bring additional value to the users.
Individually, they each chose a site priority as their brief to design a building to scale. First, they drew out the footprint of their building which they would later convert into a 3D model, considering the form, width, height and depth. We then tasked them to fit all of their buildings within the site, which sparked intense discussions about which of the site’s priorities was greatest, which required the most space and how they were going to maximise and compose their buildings within the space provided.
Once they had finalised their 2D plans, we then provided them with A0 maps of the site for them to begin etching out the new roads, paths and access points to the site. This was followed by a massing activity which converted their 2D designs and site compositions and turned them into 3D scale buildings using foam. They finished their proposals by considering the public realm and green spaces to create areas that are pleasant to spend time in.
The young people responded to the complex brief brilliantly and even proposed solutions that unknowingly mirrored those proposed by the professionals. One of the solutions suggested was to place the new hospital unit by the existing hospital for ease of use and access for hospital staff, patients and families. Another saw the office, life sciences lab and university buildings set away from the hospital to split the site’s use and allow for a greater public realm, paths and links through the site for the surrounding community.
Ellis Williams has been a PLACED Academy sponsor since 2023 and as an Ambassador we support the delivery of education and engagement activities. The network includes architects, urban designers, landscape architects, interior designers, planners and university students.