Ravara House Dementia Unit

Cunningham were appointed by the North East Health Trust to deliver works at Ravara House Dementia Unit in Bangor, County Down, consisting of a new Dementia Unit with both accommodation and treatment wings for residents and staff facilities including office provision, all within a live healthcare environment.

The works involved the demolition of existing structures and provision of a new-build, three storey integrated Dementia Health Centre with an accommodation wing of 48 bedspaces for dementia patients. The accommodation unit featured such measures as colour coded painting schemes and doors and facial recognition door locking systems aimed at reducing confusion and anxiety for this vulnerable client group.

The treatment wing incorporated consultation rooms, physio rooms, GP and pharmacy facilities and relaxation and sensory rooms. Clean rooms were also provided. The staff wing comprised canteen facilities, kitchen, offices and changing facilities. Fit out was to state-of-the-art standards of specification.
The units were fitted with double leaf sealed doors with appropriate access controls.  Further features included uninterrupted power supply rooms, ward pantries, storerooms, clinician and therapy rooms and family rooms.

Specialist cleanroom facilities, with provision for pharmaceutical services, and complete fitout, including hygienic cladding to all interior surfaces and installation and commissioning of specialist air filtration units to reduce airborne contaminants were also installed.

The project involved bespoke specialist joinery fit out of offices, reception and the accommodation and treatment wings and included bespoke furniture provision and wall cladding.

External works included full landscaped garden installation incorporating a quiet area garden and meandering yet negotiable winding paths for relaxation and leisure purposes for the residents.