A Winning Health Goal

Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) has a successful track record of delivering NHS projects across the North West over the last 25 years.

The practice uses its wealth of experience in the healthcare sector to deliver projects that make a difference to people’s lives.

In this series we are looking at some of those projects and the impact they have had on the health of people across the region.

Here we look at the development of an innovative health centre in a rather unusual setting.

A winning health goal

The Minerva Centre is housed within the final phase of the redevelopment of Preston North End’s Deepdale Stadium.

It is a flagship facility providing care services to patients with long term conditions and has become an important community asset.

The building was the first facility of its kind in the North West bringing health services and clinics together in a single purpose-built unit.

FWP spearheaded the acclaimed redevelopment of the historic football ground.

Creating the Minerva Centre, its team of architects and designers delivered a contemporary scheme that integrated the facility seamlessly within the Invincibles stand, the last piece of the Deepdale regeneration jigsaw.

The centre offers care services for patients with long-term medical conditions, such as diabetes and ME.

The interior spaces within the state-of-the-art centre are contemporary and modern with the use of bold colour and digital wall imagery to signpost the facilities and guide patients to their destinations.

Selected furniture and fittings within the public areas create a comfortable yet stylish environment for patients and staff alike.

The centre has also been the inspiration for similar projects in other parts of the country.

It was officially opened in 2009 by HRH the Princess Royal, who commented: “It’s rather an original concept and I hope you all set an example which other people will come to look at.”