The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Rehabilitation Service

The project delivered a new, purpose-built, two-level, 24-bed mental health rehabilitation facility, encompassing all phases from brief development and planning through to construction and commissioning. Cheesman Architects provided professional services across health planning, architecture, interior design, graphic design, and project management, while engaging specialist consultants for discipline-specific expertise.

The facility extends the acute mental health services at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital by supporting a longer-stay rehabilitation model, providing patients with the time, space, and therapeutic environment required for recovery. It promotes independence, community reintegration, and improved outcomes by reducing reliance on acute beds and delivering a more suitable setting for long-term care.

Located on a constrained site opposite TQEH, the building required operational independence from the hospital. This shaped the Facility Design Brief, ensuring all essential services could be delivered on site. The $51.5M project was completed under budget and within an accelerated 30-month programme—around 60% of the usual timeframe for similar facilities.

The completed facility includes single-bedrooms with ensuites, therapeutic outdoor areas, ADL spaces, creative and physical therapy rooms, sensory modulation spaces, family areas, and clinical support zones. Comprehensive FF&E and engineering infrastructure, including stand-alone power, were also delivered, enabling seamless operational readiness.