London Institute of Healthcare Engineering (LIHE)
The London Institute of Health and Engineering (LIHE) is a new life sciences department for King’s College, located on the south bank of the River Thames, near Lambeth Palace in London. The project aimed to regenerate an underutilised site, creating a modern university building that will bridge academia and practical medical applications, in collaboration with St Thomas’ Hospital. Spanning over 3,000 square meters across four levels, the facility will house academics, clinicians, and med-tech companies, promoting innovation and research.
What We Did
Pell Frischmann was initially appointed by HLM to provide structural, geotechnical, and drainage services for the LIHE project. Later, we were novated to Morgan Sindall to deliver RIBA Stage 5. Our work involved assessing different grid types to balance cost and environmental impact while minimising embodied carbon. We also tackled the challenge of constructing the building adjacent to a Grade II listed structure and over a historic mortuary tunnel. This required precise planning to protect the tunnel from construction stresses, ensuring the stability of the existing infrastructure. Additionally, we collaborated on future-proofing the project by introducing a new retaining wall to accommodate potential basement construction without compromising fire access routes.
Key Details
Location:
London, UK
Client:
Sector:
Outcomes
The project started in 2019 when Kings College London in partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas NHS foundation trust, was awarded funding for the project. Construction began in 2021 and the building officially opened March 2024.
“The London Institute for Healthcare Engineering acts as an all-encompassing framework that brings all our key partners on board to succeed in one mission – engineering better health. We want to help our partners succeed in innovation by bringing in the brain power of universities, succeed in regulation by bringing in experts, succeed in the translation of technologies by bringing them into the hospital, succeed in the market by connecting them to industry, and bring all of this into action in one environment.“
Sebastian Ourseiln – Head of the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences at King’s College
“Collaborating on the LIHE project has allowed us to push the boundaries of sustainable design and innovation while respecting the rich history of the site. Our team is proud to have delivered a facility that not only bridges academia and practical application but also sets a new standard for future developments in the heart of London.”
Lorenzo Puntoni Dell’Omodarme, Associate
