Doncaster Royal Infirmary

Built in phases between 1966 and 1969, Doncaster Royal Infirmary was designed by George, Trew and Dunn, a firm with something of a specialism in architecture for healthcare (as well as being losers to the Smithsons in a two-way battle for the Economist Plaza scheme). They also designed hospitals in Huddersfield, Woolwich, Wolverhampton and elsewhere. The first block here was the five storey Psychiatric Department, followed by an adjacent single storey Occupational Therapy Department. The largest block on site was host to maternity services and A&E, nine storeys and running approximately east-west along its long axis. As with many hospitals, the clarity of the original organisational logic is lost to piecemeal additions over the last 50 years, but ancillary blocks with the boiler house and laundry just about survive. There are some lovely bits of in-situ cast details reminiscent of the LCC Architect’s Department of the period, including a tulip headed water tower. The hard gridded façade of the main building is pleasingly arrhythmic, thinner concrete mullions are variously spaced with the primary structural columns and where solid walls are required, a facing brick of the same light grey tone is used. Light coloured spandrel panels add to the restrained tonal palette and the system has enough variation in its depth so as not to be stark or overbearing.