Leading structural engineering specialist TRP Consulting and architecture practice Cassidy + Ashton are working on the initial design stages for the centre, which will also provide the most sophisticated research environment in the African country.
East African-based multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering consultancy FBW Group is involved in the project, undertaking surveys on the proposed site of the facility in the southern city of Blantyre.
The Clinical Research and Training Open Resource (Creator) project is a partnership between the University of Malawi’s College of Medicine (CoM), Queen Elizabeth's Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), the University of Liverpool and the medical research foundation Wellcome.
Malawi currently has around 600 clinical doctors to treat a population of 16 million people; having one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. The new centre will meet a critical need for further training and research opportunities, helping to halt the ‘brain drain’ that sees doctors leave the country to progress their careers.
The Creator building will host state-of-the-art laboratories, flexible learning spaces and simulation rooms. Recording and live-stream capabilities will enable interaction with global health leaders across the world.
It will accommodate an expected 30% rise in clinical research activity and postgraduate specialist clinical medical education over the next decade.
Wellcome has committed £1.9m to the project and LSTM and the University of Liverpool are providing £3m each. More fundraising is currently underway.
The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (MLW) currently provides training for the next generation of clinical researchers and supports research nurses and clinicians at the Queen Elizabeth Central hospital (QECH) in Blantyre. The new centre will be built in its grounds.
We have been planning the Creator for more than three years as a partnership between QECH, CoM and partners in the UK. It will be a game-changer for medicine and science in Malawi.
The need for the Creator building reflects the rapid growth and quality of Malawian medical science and LSTM is delighted to be a partner in a project that will help deliver even greater success.
TRP Consulting is working on the structural development of the project; its structural engineers have a strong track record in delivering large and complex building works and have widespread expertise in sectors ranging from health to sports stadia development.
We’re delighted to be part of the team that is working to deliver this ground-breaking and vitally important project that will help address the many emerging health threats facing Malawi.
The architectural team from the Preston office of Cassidy + Ashton is creating the initial designs for Creator.
From initially visiting the site in Malawi and understanding the complexities of the location and the end-users objectives, our strategy is to develop the design in the UK and then handover the project to a local multi-disciplinary practice, FBW, to convert the building to local techniques. This will involve careful consideration of materials, given the remote location, and consideration to the deprived area with its lack of skilled labour. The Creator building aims to become a meeting place of like-minded professionals in clinical research and training.
Leading East African planning, design, architecture and engineering team FBW Group will provide its expertise on the ground, taking on project management as the building develops.
FBW also has a strong track record in supporting British-based organisations to deliver international standards in East Africa. Architect Paul Moores, from Manchester, is managing director and FBW’s chief operational officer (CFO), director of engineering and Kenyan office head are all originally from Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
LSTM Estates Department is overseeing and supervising the project in conjunction with MLW.