A state-of-the-art residential unit for vulnerable children and adolescents in the North West of England features Crittall’s Fendor CleanVent security windows.
Junction 17, designed by architects Gilling Dodd, was commissioned by Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust to provide facilities for the care of 24 inpatients aged between 13 and 17. The unit, at Prestwich, is a Tier 4 CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) facility for young people with significant mental health needs and who may pose a high risk to themselves and others. Typical symptoms or conditions may include self-harming behaviour and psychosis.
For this reason windows in rooms to which patients have access must have an anti-ligature feature.
Junction 17 has been designed with full input from the professional users of the building with the intention of providing a modern, uplifting and non-institutional appearance. In addition to the inpatient accommodation there is an intensive care suite, therapy and activity spaces and a fully-equipped college and learning zone.
The aluminium CleanVent windows specified complement this modern, non institutional feel while satisfying the anti-ligature requirements, meeting the security level of the building as well as providing natural ventilation. Crittall also supplied doors and curtain walling.
CleanVent is a unique, patented, sliding security window providing SecureLock access to the protected glazing behind the security mesh.
The windows can be internally or externally opened depending on the security lever required. It has been developed as a direct result of feedback from NHS Trusts across the UK and following extensive research and testing.
The Junction 17 facility has met with universal acclaim from staff, patients and families alike with the quality of the spatial design and healing environment attracting particular praise. A detailed post-project evaluation carried out by the Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust concluded that there was improved quality of clinical care, improved patient environment, safety and security.