A FIRM of architects has been commended for its design of a health centre.

P+HS Architects, of Stokesley, North Yorkshire, won the best healthcare building title in the region’s Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Awards, for its creation of Washington Primary Care Centre.

And in a further boost to the firm, which is celebrating its 25th year in business, two of its designs were also commended in the awards – Eaglescliffe Medical Centre, near Stockton, and Wrekenton Primary Care Centre, Gateshead.

Developed for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, the £8.9m Washington Primary Care Centre provides services such as ultrasound and x-ray, planned care for people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and community renal dialysis with 15 treatment beds for patients.

To reduce the carbon footprint of the building, for which Laing O’Rourke was construction partner, several low energy systems were incorporated, including roof mounted wind catchers for natural ventilation, and solar preheating panels linked to the domestic hot water system, which provide up to 85 per cent of the hot water.

Diana Cole, marketing manager for P+HS, said: “We are particularly proud of our success at the awards this year.”

Since starting out in 1984, P+HS now employs 60 staff at its North Yorkshire headquarters and an office in Leeds.