The Core at St Thomas

Client
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Contractor
Value
£31.3m
Completion Date
May 2023

The Core, Evelina Children's Hospital, Day Surgery Unit

The Challenge

The Core project was delivered within one of the most complex construction environments in the UK healthcare sector.

Located on the operational St Thomas’ Hospital campus, adjacent to Evelina London Children’s Hospital and within the Albert Embankment Conservation Area, the project faced significant constraints relating to site access, logistics, stakeholder management and planning requirements.

The team was required to work safely within a live hospital environment whilst ensuring uninterrupted patient care, emergency access and day-to-day clinical operations.

The high-profile central London location, combined with the technical complexity of a modern healthcare facility, created additional challenges around construction sequencing, service diversions and programme management.

The Solution

Morgan Sindall adopted a highly collaborative approach from the earliest stages of project development, working closely with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Mace, ADP Architecture and specialist supply chain partners.

Comprehensive pre-construction surveys and detailed service investigations were undertaken to understand the existing hospital infrastructure and minimise risk during delivery.

Robust logistics and stakeholder engagement strategies ensured construction activities were carefully coordinated around hospital operations.

The building incorporated a range of specialist healthcare systems, including medical gases, operating theatre infrastructure, standby power generation, fire suppression systems, high-voltage electrical installations and integration with the Trust’s existing Building Management System.

The project was also designed to provide flexible, future-proofed accommodation capable of adapting to evolving clinical and educational requirements.

The Results

The successful completion of The Core has delivered a state-of-the-art five-storey facility that significantly enhances both healthcare provision and medical education at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

The new development provides a dedicated children’s day surgery centre alongside high-quality teaching, training and staff development facilities, supporting the continued growth of Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Delivered with minimal disruption to ongoing hospital services, the project has increased patient treatment capacity, improved the quality of the clinical environment and created a flexible asset that will support future healthcare needs.

The Core now forms a key part of the Trust’s long-term vision to provide world-class care for children, young people and their families while strengthening the development of the healthcare workforce of the future

879

Number of Apprentices

86.7%

SME Spend

£1.1m

Added Value

9/10

Client Satisfaction

Contractor Performance | Commitments

Sustainability

The Core was designed as a flexible, future-ready healthcare and education facility that maximises estate efficiency while supporting evolving clinical needs. Sustainability is embedded through the use of a hybrid Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system, intelligent Building Management System (BMS) controls, energy-efficient lighting and modern chilled water infrastructure to optimise operational performance and reduce energy demand.

Delivered as a five-storey development within a live hospital environment, the project expanded clinical capacity through a dedicated Children’s Day Surgery Centre while minimising disruption to ongoing healthcare services. Early contractor involvement, detailed service investigations and collaborative delivery through the Southern Construction Framework reduced project risk, avoided unnecessary rework and supported efficient resource utilisation throughout construction.

The facility combines healthcare and medical education functions within a single building, creating long-term operational efficiency, supporting workforce development and providing adaptable, resilient infrastructure designed to meet future healthcare demands

Safe

Delivered within a live, operational hospital environment, requiring stringent controls to maintain uninterrupted patient care and emergency access throughout construction.

Extensive pre-construction surveys and service mapping were undertaken to identify critical infrastructure and reduce risks associated with working adjacent to active clinical facilities.

Detailed logistics and sequencing plans were implemented to safely manage deliveries, workforce movements and construction activities within a constrained city-centre site.

Installation of specialist life-safety systems, including fire suppression, sprinkler protection, smoke ventilation, standby power generation and essential electrical infrastructure.

Robust stakeholder engagement ensured safe separation between construction activities, hospital staff, patients and visitors.

Successfully completed with minimal disruption to ongoing hospital operations while maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and patient protection

Legacy

Delivered 31 school and STEM engagement activities, investing over 302 hours to inspire young people and promote careers in construction and engineering.

Provided 14 work experience placements, 5 undergraduate placements and 6 mentoring opportunities, supporting education and employability outcomes

Created 11 new entrant jobs and delivered 879 apprentice training weeks, significantly exceeding project targets.

Contributed £5,457 in community investment and 288 volunteer hours, supporting local schools, charities, parks, foodbanks and Evelina Children’s Hospital.

Donated toys, books, PPE, furniture and community resources, creating lasting social value across Lambeth and the wider local community

Fair

Each package was carefully considered on its own merit and procured through a competitive tendering process, using LSCP.

Enquiries were issued to known companies and on a specialist level to protect quality.

Expectations regarding pricing, delivery, programme and payment terms were clearly communicated and this ensured trust was built from the start and minimised any misunderstanding. The team ensured that prices offered by suppliers were fair and competitive within the industry.

Payment terms negotiated ensured they that were fair to both parties and considered factors such as the supplier’s cash flow and the nature of the goods or services provided.

Aftercare

Following completion, The Core underwent a structured handover and commissioning process, including a dedicated medical fit-out period prior to becoming operational for patient care.

The project delivered a flexible, future-proofed facility supported by integrated Building Management Systems, enabling efficient operation, monitoring and maintenance throughout its lifecycle.

Ongoing stakeholder engagement with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust ensured a smooth transition into use, while the resilient design and high-quality healthcare infrastructure provide long-term value, operational reliability and adaptability for future clinical requirements