Kaleidoscope

This pioneering building allows children and their carers to access a range of services in a contemporary building which gives a sleek and colourful focal point to a busy thoroughfare.

Kaleidoscope – the Lewisham Centre for Children and Young People – is an innovative building conceived and commissioned by the Lewisham Primary Care Trust.

The centre brings together four separate agencies providing services for children and young people as well as inter-agency and voluntary groups.  Professional teams are able to share expertise and offer children and young people access to the services and treatments they need – all in one place and all on the same day.  It is a model for the kind of integrated child-focused care increasingly advocated by government. 

Research has shown that patients benefit from being treated in surroundings that are well-designed.  Kaleidoscope won a RIBA London Award and received commendations in the RICS Community Benefit Award, the Building Better Health Care Awards, the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award and a Civic Trust award.

How CABE enabling helped

• gave the client a language to discuss the proposals
• set up and ran a design competition
• appointed a client design advisor
• worked with the architect to develop their proposal
• liaised with the planning department on behalf of the client and architect