Awards
Award-winning maternity, neonatal and children's design at the Countess of Chester Hospital
by AHR
We're proud to share that the Women and Children’s Building at the Countess of Chester Hospital has won Best Architectural Design for a Healthcare Facility at the Healthcare Design Awards.
This win belongs to everyone who helped shape the project, from clinical teams and estates colleagues to our architecture and interior design teams.
The new maternity and neonatal facility sets a fresh benchmark for patient-centred healthcare design. It also shows what is possible when we bring sustainability, safety and wellbeing together from day one.
A joined-up achievement, shaped with the Trust
We designed the building in close collaboration with the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. We listened carefully to what people needed from the space, then tested ideas together through immersive design sessions and away-days.
Pippa Scott-Heale, Divisional Director Planned Care at the Countess of Chester Hospital, said:
‘Working with AHR has been an incredibly positive experience. From the outset, they genuinely listened to us and involved us in every step of the process. After waiting so long for a new building, seeing it completed and delivered on time is something we all feel really proud of.’
The building rethinks what a hospital can feel like. Light-filled, nature-connected and family-centred, while designed with staff, for staff and meeting ambitious net zero carbon goals.
Take a look inside the Women and Children’s Building and hear directly from those who designed it and those who deliver care within in.
the women and children's building
A new standard for sustainable maternity and neonatal care
The former maternity facility had reached the end of its life. It was also originally built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which the NHS is working to remove from the public estate by 2035.
This gave the Trust a rare opportunity to create something stronger and more resilient. Together, we reimagined the setting for maternity, neonatal and children’s services, with dignity, comfort and clarity built in.
The building is also a landmark for sustainable healthcare. It is the first in England to be approved under the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, supporting the Trust’s commitment to clinical excellence and a lower-carbon future.
As designers, we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
We’ve helped to shape a building that not only meets the needs of today but is flexible and resilient enough to support future generations of staff, services and patients.”
Gareth Banks
Project Director
We feel proud of what we achieved together; this award celebrates the care, craft and shared ambition behind every decision.
If you would like to learn more, our full case study brings the story to life. It includes more detail on the net zero approach, stakeholder engagement, design development and interior choices.
Explore the Countess of Chester Hospital’s Women and Children’s Building case study
Frequently asked questions
We delivered architecture and interior design, working closely with the Trust’s clinical, estates and leadership teams.
The building is the first in England to be approved under the NHS Net Zero Building Standard. We designed it as a fully electric, high performing facility with on-site renewables.
We focused on dignity and calm through single en-suite rooms, intuitive wayfinding and restorative spaces with daylight, views and access to courtyards and terraces.
Posted on:
Feb 16th 2026
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