Project overview
P+HS Architects have worked closely with North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a new five-room endoscopy unit at Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle. The £15 million scheme provides a purpose-built, self-contained facility that replaces undersized and non-compliant accommodation previously located within the main hospital building, significantly improving clinical capacity and patient flow.
The building is positioned within an existing area of parking and landscaping, near to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, also designed by P+HS Architects. Its elevational treatment brings together buff brickwork, curtain wall glazing and patterned perforated aluminium panels, the latter incorporating a nature-inspired motif to create a calm and welcoming presence for patients and visitors.
Brickability’s Brick Services supported the delivery of the façade through the supply of multiple cladding solutions, including the FabSpeed CMS40 brick cladding system. The system was completed using brick slips cut from the specified bricks, ensuring visual continuity with traditional masonry while meeting the technical requirements of a modern healthcare facility.
The CMS40 system is a mechanically fixed solution that replicates the appearance of conventional brickwork while offering the reduced weight and performance benefits of a lightweight panel system. Its use on the project helped achieve a contemporary yet reassuring façade, contributing to a building that balances clinical efficiency with a considered architectural response.
Designed as the next generation of healthcare delivery, the building combines modular construction with a bespoke external envelope, allowing demands to be met without compromising architectural quality. The new unit supports both outpatient and inpatient services, with five modern clinical rooms, dedicated outpatient areas and improved staff facilities. Together, these enhancements enable faster diagnoses, increased throughput and reduced waiting times in response to growing local demand.
