Queens Award

Case Study

Royal Surrey County Hospital Labs Refurbishment


Royal Surrey County Hospital embarked on an ambitious million-pound labs refurbishment initiative in 2020, with the aim of elevating its diagnostic capabilities and positioning its laboratory services at the forefront of the UK’s most advanced healthcare facilities.

This profound transformation centred around the comprehensive upgrade of the Pathology Building’s first floor—a pivotal undertaking that involved reconfiguration and the integration of state-of-the-art furniture.

Given the significant volume of tissue samples—approximately 200,000 per year—processed by the hospital, the refurbishment aimed to modernise the facility, accommodate the growing demand for testing, and create a conducive working environment for the 60-strong laboratory team.

S+B UK collaborated with the main contractor, Burren and Whitaker Construction, on this project in our capacity as laboratory furniture manufacturers. At the core of our contribution was the installation of high-quality furniture systems, a critical factor in shaping the renewed laboratory space’s functionality and aesthetics.

The Exemplaire C frame and Exemplaire column lab benching systems with suspended cupboards  were the main furniture elements of the revamped labs. The suspended storage can be quickly and easily reconfigured as it can traverse the full bench length free of obstruction and interruption. This maximised storage efficiency also ensure seamless organization and convenient access to crucial equipment and supplies. Regent and wall mounted spur shelving provide additional storage space.

The photos below showing an insight into this labs refurbishment transformative journey were provided by Burren and Whitaker Construction.