Arup were commissioned by the 6th Duke of Westminster to create a cutting-edge military hospital on the historic grounds of Stanford Hall. 

Creating a specialist facility takes a great deal of planning, research and interdisciplinary consulting. Through engagement with a range of professionals with niche expertise, often gained through first-hand experience in war zones, Arup led on a build which was not only fit-for-purpose, but was also able to keep pace with cutting-edge developments in military healthcare.

As such, the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) is endorsed by the Department of Health and NHS England.

One of the key challenges of the build was its organisational complexity, being funded by private donations, delivered by a commercial developer and occupied by a public agency.

Despite the challenges of cross-sector working, Arup were able to maintain an integrated team culture – from the boardroom to the construction site.

The purpose built 43,000m² facility includes a state of the art integrated treatment zone containing gyms, pools, accommodation for complex trauma and neurological patients, diagnostic imaging and a prosthetics department.

A specialist research laboratory houses the latest technology to optimise rehabilitation including a physiology laboratory, gait laboratory and a computer assisted rehabilitation environment.

When construction pressures threatened to push costs over budget, Arup worked with project stakeholders to deliver astonishing cost savings of £50m through genuine value engineering to keep the project on track.

The DNRC opened to patients on 21 June 2018 at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Theresa May. 

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