thomas heatherwick chosen to design maggie’s centre at st. james, leeds
portrait © elena heatherwick

 

 

 

thomas heatherwick joins such firms as snohetta, foster + partners, frank gehry and OMA, who have already designed maggie’s centers — which focus on providing free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer, their families and friends — throughout the UK and abroad, as the selected architect to realize the charitable organization’s next facility.

 

sited on the grounds of the st. james’s university hospital in leeds, heatherwick’s plan for the ‘maggie’s yorkshire centre’ will be erected adjacent to the existing bexley wing, close to the hospital’s oncology unit. positioned among a number of multi-storey buildings, the scheme will significantly enhance the existing cancer support network offered to the community through maggie’s evidence-based programme that includes psychological aid, benefits advice, nutrition workshops, relaxation and stress management, art therapy, tai chi and yoga.

 

‘we are honoured to be working with the maggie’s team on a new centre. our role is to make a special place that will support and encourage people affected by cancer and inspire the staff that work with them.’ – thomas heatherwick

 

maggie’s chief executive, laura lee said, ‘we are delighted that heatherwick studio is designing the new maggie’s centre in yorkshire. great architecture is vital to the care that maggie’s offers and the studio is renowned for its inventive approach to design and its ability to truly get the best out of a space.  this will be our first centre in yorkshire and we look forward to providing the vital help and support needed to people living with cancer in the region.’

 

linda pollard CBE, chair of the leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust, adds: ‘we are proud to have one of the most modern and well equipped cancer hospitals in the world here in leeds. it is therefore fitting that an internationally-renowned designer will be working on our site to develop our own maggie’s centre in yorkshire, which will complement the excellent care our staff already provide.
 

this is a tremendously exciting opportunity and we are looking forward to working with the charity to make this fantastic project a reality. the philosophy behind the maggie’s centre fits perfectly with the holistic care and support we aim to provide for cancer patients from across yorkshire, and it will be a wonderful and uplifting resource for them.’

 

the ‘maggie’s yorkshire centre’ is projected to open in 2016.