St Catherine's Hospice

St Catherine’s Hospice is a new build project located in Crawley, comprising 24 in-patient bedrooms with associated family rooms, courtyard gardens, treatment rooms, and office space. Designed with care and sensitivity, the project sought to create a calming and homely environment for patients and their loved ones.

LSI architects led the design, producing the NBS specification and drawings with a clear vision for the outcome. Matthew Reeve, Architect at LSI architects, specified Bushboard Washrooms Healthcare IPS for the project. This was down to not only Bushboard’s expertise in the healthcare sector but also the extensive support and readily available design resources that guided the early stages of specification.

Healthcare IPS Unit Design Approach

To meet the requirements of a healthcare setting while softening the clinical aesthetic, HBN-compliant Traditional Aperture Units were specified. Recessed into partition walls, these units played a crucial role in maintaining a streamlined, unobtrusive look throughout the facility

In the main reception areas and accessible washrooms, the units were finished in Silver Oak laminate—a warm, domestic tone that complemented the wider interior palette of timber-effect finishes used across flooring, walls, and bedhead services. In the bedroom areas, Dove White laminate was selected to allow the units to blend seamlessly into the surrounding wall finish.

The panels were made from Solid Grade laminate (SGL), offering the necessary ease of cleaning and durability for the clinical environment. This was particularly important in supporting biophilic design principles through the textured, timber-look surface that is easy to maintain.

Matthew Reeve commented on the importance of this design approach:

“These are rooms where patients will be spending most of their time, and where loved ones will try to make the most of the time they have remaining together. By carefully approaching the more clinical elements of the design—Healthcare IPS units often being one of them—we can allow those clinical healthcare components to fade into the background to create a less distracting, more comfortable environment.”

Installation and Delivery at St Catherine’s Hospice

Barnes Construction acted as the main contractor and were responsible for the installation of the Healthcare IPS units. Bushboard supplied their Ezeeduct frame system, allowing panels to fit flush with the partition wall surface for a seamless appearance. All services were concealed behind the void, maintaining a clean and sterile environment.

Each unit arrived on site with panels factory fitted to a rigid, galvanised steel frame. Only tie-back rods and screws into the stud wall were required on site, which simplified the installation process and minimised the time on site – helping the project stay on schedule. The efficient design meant the construction team raised very few queries during installation.

Project Outcome

The completed hospice was extremely well received. Matthew shared:

“The finishes throughout the hospice, especially in the bedrooms and ensuites, have been very positively received. The Healthcare IPS units go a long way in achieving this reaction.”

When asked if he would use Bushboard products again or recommend them to others, he replied:

“Yes, absolutely!”

The collaboration between LSI Architects, Barnes Construction and Bushboard Washrooms, from initial design to final installation, resulted in a peaceful, thoughtfully designed environment. The space provides a sense of calm and comfort for patients and visitors, while still meeting the stringent HBN requirements of a healthcare facility.