Austin-Smith:Lord has been appointed by Tenovus Cancer Care to design the interior fit-out of their next mobile chemotherapy treatment vehicle (Unit 3).

Our appointment is a departure for Tenovus from previous reliance on the specialist coach-builders who have created their existing pair of mobile units and represents a conscious move to involve professional interior designers in the delivery of this vehicle. It reinforces the ambition to create a unique and cutting-edge patient focussed facility for cancer patients across Wales, and is testament to the reputation of Austin-Smith:Lord’s interiors team to be selected for such a crucial and innovative project.

Transported in the footprint of a standard articulated trailer, the mobile treatment unit will expand to provide approximately 100m2 of internal space comprising reception, treatment area, consultation room, private treatment space, accessible WC and staff kitchen. The focus of the cancer care and treatment facility will be on the patient experience and so whilst being fully compliant with infection control requirements and equipped with state of the art medical equipment this will not be a space with a clinical appearance or ambience.

Following extensive consultations throughout December 2017 involving stakeholders including nursing staff and Tenovus senior management team members, and several sessions on board the existing vehicles with cancer patients undergoing treatment, ASL produced a series of interior layout options supported by sketch ideas for detailing and precedent images to help describe the ambience we propose. A preferred option was selected at a workshop held in mid-January and is being developed to be the final design.

Austin-Smith:Lord’s design will be issued to the specialist coach-builder during the first week of February with construction commencing immediately and delivery of the completed vehicle to Tenovus in July.

Image: Existing Tenovus Mobile Treatment Unit 2