Moorfields and UCL Centre for Eye Health

Bouygues UK, Bouygues Bâtiment International’s UK subsidiary, is delivering Moorfields and UCL Centre for Eye Health, a transformative £300 million integrated facility on the St Pancras Hospital site in Camden. This joint initiative brings together Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, and Moorfields Eye Charity under one roof. 

Known as project ‘Oriel’ during delivery phase, this new 47,000m² centre across will revolutionise patient care by enabling closer collaborative working between clinicians and researchers. This integration accelerates the delivery of the highest quality treatments and therapies while providing an enhanced patient experience and more efficient service delivery. 

Designed with flexibility at its core, the building will adapt to future technological, medical and research requirements, maintaining world-leading standards. The centre has been specifically designed as a national exemplar for accessibility, with every design element - from wayfinding and navigation to acoustics and lighting - guided by patient feedback to promote independence and wellbeing. 

The scale and complexity of this 47,000m² project in central London presented significant technical and logistical challenges. Bouygues UK developed a comprehensive Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) strategy throughout the entire programme, fundamentally transforming how the building is assembled. 

Structural innovation: Vertical cores and columns use modular, reusable formwork enabling faster concrete pours, consistent results across all levels, and safer on-site conditions. Below ground, the basement is formed using over 200 precast load-bearing panels that arrive watertight and ready to install, dramatically reducing on-site labour and accelerating this critical phase. 

Optimised assembly: Concrete slab reinforcement uses prefabricated reinforcement rolls that are lifted into position and rolled out on decking, significantly reducing labour resources. The façade, covering over 16,000 m², features unitised panels manufactured off-site under strict quality controls. 

Integrated systems: Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are prefabricated into ready-to-fit modules through early coordination.  

This approach delivers predictable factory schedules supporting on-time delivery, safer on-site conditions through reduced manual work, and significant reductions in noise and dust, minimising impact on the local community.