Feedback invited on early designs for the Fleming Centre at St Mary's Hospital
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is inviting the public to help shape the design of the Fleming Centre – a new, state-of-the-art research and public engagement hub at St Mary’s Hospital.
The Centre is part of the wider Fleming Initiative, established jointly by Imperial College Healthcare and Imperial College London and led by Executive chair, Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, to tackle the increasingly urgent, global threat of antimicrobial resistance. It will provide a space to bring together researchers, policymakers, clinicians, behavioural scientists, commercial partners and the public to combine their shared networks, expertise and skills.
Antimicrobials – including antibiotics – have transformed healthcare by treating infections, making surgery safer, and protecting people with weakened immune systems. However, overuse and misuse of these vital medicines has led to the rise of resistant microbes or antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Without urgent action, we risk entering a post-antibiotic era where even common infections could once again become life-threatening.
Patients, the public and the local community, are now invited to view the early design proposals and feedback online. They can also come along to an exhibition in the proposed location for the Fleming Centre at St Mary's Hospital or join an online webinar, where members of the project team, including lead architects Stanton Williams (except Friday), will be on hand to answer questions. The in-person public exhibitions will also provide an opportunity to see a model of the designs.
Online webinar - register via www.imperial.nhs.uk/FlemingConsultation
- Wednesday 25 June - 6-7pm
Fleming Centre design exhibition at The Bays, St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington:
- Thursday 26 June - 12-7pm
- Friday 27 June - 12-7pm
- Saturday 28 June - 10-2pm
While funding for the Fleming Centre is separate to NHS funding for St Mary’s Hospital, each will benefit the work of the other. The Centre is planned as a precursor to the redevelopment of the whole of the St Mary’s site as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. This will include a new 800-bed hospital as well as further expansion of Paddington Life Sciences, the cluster of life science and data businesses developing around the hospital.
The Fleming Centre is due to open in 2028, marking 100 years since the discovery of the first antibiotic - penicillin - at St Mary’s by Sir Alexander Fleming.
The proposals include:
- A public discovery centre with interactive exhibition spaces, an event programme and canal-side café
- Public research facilities, laboratories and workspaces for institutions, academics, policy makers and the community to collaborate
- Welcoming outdoor spaces and improved routes that are safe and accessible
All the feedback will be used to inform the next phase of the project, including detailed design, further public consultations, and the submission of a planning application in collaboration with Westminster City Council.
The Trust announced in January that Stanton Williams had been selected to design the Fleming Centre, following a RIBA competition and three-day public exhibition in November. This event showcased five concept designs from five shortlisted architects and feedback from over 300 visitors and 100 written responses helped guide the final selection, ensuring that the winning design concept reflected excellence in both design and functionality and can be a real asset to the local community.
Professor Tim Orchard, Chief executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “The Fleming Centre promises to be an exciting new hub of research and policy development to find solutions to AMR that will benefit patients and communities locally and around the world for many years to come.
“Co-producing solutions with patients and the public is vital but it’s just as important that the Fleming Centre building itself is informed by the views and needs of our community and represents the historic legacy of antibiotics and research at St Mary’s.”
To find out more and respond to the consultation, visit: www.imperial.nhs.uk/FlemingConsultation
