Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital: redefining maternity care in Belfast
Appointed by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust as lead architect, we partnered with Isherwood + Ellis to develop the concept design for Belfast’s new Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital.
The state-of-the-art facility now supports over 5,000 women each year through pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.
Designing every stage of the maternity journey
As part of the wider Royal Victoria Hospital redevelopment, the new hospital replaces outdated infrastructure with a modern facility that reflects the vision set out in Northern Ireland’s maternity strategy. Our approach focused on normalising birth and recovery, placing women, babies and families at the centre.
We led stakeholder engagement from the outset, including one-to-one mock-ups with midwives and clinicians to ensure each space worked for staff and patients. Delivery suites, obstetric theatres, en-suite birthing rooms and neonatal care are all located on one floor to support safer, more intuitive journeys through care.
Specialist spaces include a midwifery-led unit, early pregnancy unit, a 10-bed high-dependency ward and a quiet room for bereaved families.
Bringing new life to maternity care in Belfast
To create a more welcoming environment, we introduced features that reduce the clinical feel and help women feel safe, calm and supported.
Full-length windows with electronic blinds bring in natural light while preserving privacy, and bespoke panels conceal medical gases and equipment. Rooms also include space for family members to stay overnight.
Built beside the existing hospital to minimise disruption, the new facility is now in its final stages of preparation. Once open, it will strengthen the resilience of Royal Jubilee Maternity Services and set a new standard for maternity care across the UK and Ireland.
Degree classification: Minimum 2:1 or equivalent.
"I feel like I am growing and making an impact every day." Vincent, Landscape Architecture, London
