Pick Everard delivers ‘seaside vintage’ design for Brighton blood donor centre

Situated on Gloucester Place in the heart of the vibrant city, the permanent donor centre offers excellent accessibility for visitors using public transport or on foot.

The facility has capacity for around 1,100 appointments a week, with the blood donated having the potential to save up to 3,300 lives.

Delivered in partnership with principal contractor Kier Places, Pick Everard provided architecture, interior design, project management, cost management, health and safety and M&E (mechanical and electrical) services.

Drawing on the city’s iconic seafront, the architecture and interiors of the Brighton Blood Donor Centre embrace a seaside vintage theme.

Inside, the space features pastel hues and sand-effect flooring to evoke the local coastline, complemented by photography of well-known Brighton and Hove landmarks.

Each of the consultation rooms is named after a prominent local site, including the Royal Pavillion and Palace Pier, creating a sense of connection to the city.

Architectural detailing and material selection were influenced by the stucco facades and the blue-green railings of the pier. The use of tiles references the Victorian era when Brighton surged as a popular location for daytrippers and intricate motifs reference the regency era architecture along the Brighton coastline.

Delivered in 14 weeks, the centre features six donation chairs, individual consultation rooms, staff areas including a chill-out room and prayer room, a modern waiting area, and environmentally controlled storage spaces. Existing mechanical and engineering (M&E) elements were stripped out and replaced to healthcare standards.

Choolwe Lourens, Architect at Pick Everard, said: “It’s been a pleasure to contribute to a project that plays such a vital role in supporting public health. The new blood donor centre in Brighton will make it easier for people to donate, helping to strengthen the local supply and ultimately save lives.

Transforming a former commercial space into a purpose-built healthcare facility required close collaboration across the project team. We’re proud to have delivered a design that is welcoming, sympathetic of the locality – and most importantly, tailored to the needs of donors and staff alike.

This project highlights how thoughtful, user-focused design can enhance essential services and deliver real value to the community.”

Kieran Bradley, Director of Architect at Pick Everard, added: “This project continues our collaborative relationship with Kier Places and NHS Blood and Transplant, building on the success of our previous work together. The new donor centre has been positively received by visitors, reflecting the clarity and purpose of the design. It has been rewarding to contribute to a space that enhances the donor journey through careful planning, material consideration, and a focus on user experience."

Simon Briggs, construction programme manager for NHSBT, said: “This project has been another great example of what can be achieved through effective stakeholder engagement and shared focus. From the early design stages and throughout construction, all partners were aligned on delivering a facility that meets the needs of both our donor care teams and our donors.

The Brighton centre has been completed to a high clinical standard, and the branding and interior design have created a welcoming environment for everyone – emphasising our goal of creating a great donor experience.”

Chief Medical Officer at University Hospitals Sussex, Prof Catherine Urch, said: “I am delighted that a new blood donor centre NHSBT has opened in Brighton. We are all so aware of the lifesaving quality of blood, and blood products that are generously donated by the public. Many patients don't get the opportunity to say thank you - but we do.

The new centre will be pivotal in widening the access of people to donate their blood, offering a convenient, comfortable environment with the expert staff. Thank you for the new centre at Brighton, thank you to all the people who have and who will donate to help save lives of our patients.”

Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Walker, said: “We are delighted to open this fantastic new donor centre, which will make it possible for even more people in Brighton to become lifesaving blood donors.

This new permanent donor centre in the heart of the city will be open seven days a week, offering local donors more convenience and choice when booking an appointment.

The NHS needs over 200,000 new donors every year. We hope the new centre in Brighton will increase the number of donors, so the NHS has the right mix of blood types to meet demand.”

The new facility in Brighton is one of three permanent centres opened by the NHS over the last ten months as part of NHSBT’s strategy to increase blood stocks and donor numbers across England. This includes Concept House in Southampton, which opened in June this year – another NHSBT project delivered by Pick Everard and Kier Places.

Kier Places and Pick Everard are working closely with NHSBT to identify sites across the country that could be used in similar capacities.