Specialist Door Solutions (SDS) has unveiled The SDS Hub, a new events, demonstration and collaboration space in the heart of London, dedicated to enhancing partnerships within the healthcare construction industry. Located on the ground floor of Nutmeg House near Tower Bridge, The SDS Hub has been purposefully designed to bring together stakeholders across the design, planning, construction, and supply chains of healthcare facilities.
Darren Woolsgrove, Managing Director at SDS, said the launch of The SDS Hub reflects a critical step toward addressing the evolving demands of the healthcare construction sector:
“The industry is experiencing a period of transformation. Maintenance requirements for hospital buildings are intensifying and with further investment in new hospitals expected as part of the New Hospital Programme, we need to foster collaborative partnerships to support facilities that are fit for the future of healthcare delivery.”
To celebrate the opening, SDS hosted a company-wide event, with over 50 team members gathering to explore the space, discuss industry updates, and share ideas for forthcoming projects. Darren explained, “The SDS Hub was conceived as a dedicated space for collaboration. We’re seeing more opportunities to partner with industry leaders to meet the unique demands of healthcare construction both now and into the future, and we hope to see The SDS Hub serve as a central point for this new way of working.”
Reflecting its commitment to industry education and knowledge sharing, SDS is set to host the Architects for Health Future Leaders event in The SDS Hub in the coming weeks, emphasising the space’s focus on forward-thinking and innovation in healthcare facility design.
At the opening event, Tim Ashton and Liam Gulliford from Hunters Architects, a key collaborator on The SDS Hub’s design, joined the SDS team. Tim, Director of Healthcare at Hunters, shared his personal insights into the successes and challenges of door specification in healthcare with a presentation on the design and build of the children’s building within the Waddington Wing of Stoke Mandeville Hospital, highlighting the role of specialised doorsets in enhancing patient experience and safety.
Liam Gulliford said:
“It was a great introduction to the new SDS Hub and seeing our collective vision for the space become a reality. From our initial concept designs, SDS have delivered an open, flexible, and contemporary space to bring industry leaders together in their mission to deliver high-quality doors.”
Endorsing the initiative, Rick Lennard, Commercial Director for NHS England’s New Hospital Programme, speaking at a recent interview with SDS said: “Credit to SDS for taking the initiative to lead on something like this, it’s truly fantastic.”
If you'd like to enquire about events at The SDS Hub or would just like to have a look around, please contact the SDS team by calling 01420 543222 or email sales@specialistdoorsolutions.com.