North View, Manchester

This was our biggest mental health project to date.

North View is a £105m multi-level adult acute inpatient mental health unit constructed at North Manchester General Hospital.

A state-of-the-art, 150 bed facility, it was built by Vinci Construction to replace the ageing Park House unit.

This was a major £2.5m contract that ran for 14 months – and one that needed a trusted, expert hand at the helm, as well as a team capable of creating a solution when one wasn’t already available on the market.

For North View, this meant we needed to tap into our expertise within product development to create not one but two completely new products.

• Polar Medlock Trickle Vent: An award-winning specialist ventilation solution created specifically for secure healthcare environments, and one which provides safe, natural airflow without compromising safety.
• Urwell windows: Brand new, state-of-the art windows that have helped lower energy costs by eliminating CO2 from the site.

Our ability to collaborate with partners was crucial on this job – as demonstrated by our product creation, in which we explored their needs and developed a solution that worked.

But so was our ability to work on, and meet deadlines for, huge projects.

North View required:

• 250+ Healthcare windows
• 30+ doors
• 300+ curtain walling screens

Additionally, we helped develop the site’s rooftop gardens, adding vibrancy by installing artwork within the glazing.

And despite the enormous scale, the project was finished ahead of deadline – and firmly to the satisfaction of the client.

According to Peter O’Sullivan,  Senior Capital Projects Manager for the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, our work has enhanced the site significantly.

He said: “Polar worked with us and we’ve brought forward a design we are all happy with – it has been a major achievement.

“In general, I couldn’t be more proud of this scheme and proud to work with everyone who has worked on it.”