Scottish architectural practices, 3DReid, has formed a joint venture partnership (JVP) with international healthcare design specialist, Devereux Architects, in order to meet the challenges and demands of healthcare development in Scotland.

The JVP between the two practices combines local knowledge and design flair with expertise in the delivery of all types of acute hospitals, community hospitals and mental health facilities.

Alex Donaldson, Head of Partnerships at 3DReid - who are already on the panel of healthcare architects for Framework Scotland - said: "We strongly believe in a collaborative approach and Devereux Architects complements us in terms of their skills, knowledge, location and working methodology.

"A partnership approach naturally creates continuous improvement in final design quality, programme and cost. We are confident that this JVP will deliver cutting-edge healthcare buildings which meet both the business cases of the Trusts and the aspirations of the government, particularly with regards the sustainability agenda."


Nic Allen, Managing Director at Devereux Architects, who has been instrumental in establishing Devereux on a number of healthcare frameworks, commented: "Our joint venture offers the Scottish healthcare sector and Framework Scotland a very strong team with extensive healthcare design knowledge, skills and experience, plus considerable local resources."

Some of the issues that the JVP has identified as key drivers to push the Scottish healthcare market design agenda forward include:

- alleviate Trust concerns that meeting new stringent sustainable design requirements will affect their business cases and ultimately services; the JV has internal BREEAM healthcare assessors to ensure environmental objectives are achieved

- assist Trusts with future strategies and planning of their estates use to maximise the productive and efficient use of expensive health building assets

- a more collaborative, inclusive approach to design with wider consultation of clinicians and patients/service users and other stakeholders to develop design solutions focused on local need and requirements

- create facilities, which provide a better community focus and instill local pride

- a more holistic approach to designs with the aim of helping in wider public sector regeneration objectives

- improved cross-sector learning – taking relevant experiences from other building designs and applying them to the healthcare model. For example, wayfinding knowledge 3DReid has gained from its extensive airport work to help alleviate patient stress and improve their experience

- a more considered understanding and application of evidence based design principles

3DReid is the 2nd largest practice in Scotland with offices in Edinburgh, Falkirk & Glasgow, the 10th largest in the UK (Architects’ Journal 100) and 61st in the world (BD World Architecture 100).