The entrance to Nottinghamshire’s first Community Diagnostic Centre is set to be transformed into a striking commemorative garden, thanks to a collaboration between local college students, the NHS, and construction partners.
A group of talented students from West Nottinghamshire College submitted the winning design as part of a collaborative competition. The brief challenged students to develop eye-catching proposals for the entrance to the new multi-million-pound centre, which is expected to deliver tens of thousands more health checks each year. The competition aimed to provide students with real-world experience and the chance to contribute to a meaningful project. The resulting garden will offer a peaceful, reflective space for staff, patients and visitors to remember loved ones and colleagues. Incorporating elements from the top student entries, the garden will be brought to life at the new Mansfield Community Diagnostic Centre, currently under construction alongside Mansfield Community Hospital on Stockwell Gate. Liz Meredith, Estates Project Director at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “The creativity and thoughtfulness shown in the garden designs has been inspiring. Each entry reflected a deep understanding of what this space means to our staff, patients, and wider community. We’re so proud to be part of a project that not only honours our NHS heroes but also showcases the amazing talent in our local community.”
Andrew Whyley, Head of Department for Construction and Building Services Projects at West Nottinghamshire College, said: “The panel was blown away by the quality of the presentations that our learners – Khiara, Ellie, Kacper, George, and Rueben – produced. “They were unable to choose between them, so it was decided to take elements of each design and incorporate them into one final plan. This will be completed by Kier Construction and the NHS Trust designers, and then approved by our learners. “It will then be built and completed with our learners being the focal point in all aspects of the build. We could not be prouder of the amount of research, professionalism and quality of their work. It takes a lot of courage to stand up and present to a panel of professionals at such an early stage of their careers.” The initiative reflects Kier’s continuing commitment to social value and community benefit, extending the impact of the Mansfield Community Diagnostic Centre beyond clinical services. Daniel Manlove, Project Manager for Kier Construction Eastern and Midlands, said: “The commemorative garden competition was a great opportunity for us to encourage creativity and support the next generation of construction professionals. We were blown away by the students’ impressive designs, and we’re delighted that the winners will be involved in leaving a lasting legacy for the community of Mansfield. We look forward to bringing their vision to life.”