Image: Arcadis
Oriel is a joint initiative between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity. Together, we will relocate all services at Moorfields Eye Hospital on City Road and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology on Bath Street, to a new, integrated centre in Camden.
Sight loss is an increasing problem. By 2050 it’s estimated that four million people will be living with sight loss in the UK. Innovation and technology offer new possibilities for treatments and cures, but we need the right facilities.
Oriel will create an environment for innovation to flourish, inspiring improvements in people’s sight. The new centre will be flexible and modern, enabling us to bring together healthcare, eye research and education for the first time.
Harnessing all our expertise under one roof in a new fit-for-purpose centre will enable closer collaboration between clinicians and researchers to speed up the delivery of treatments and therapies for patients – ultimately helping us work together to discover, develop and deliver the best eye care sustainably and at scale.
Construction has started and we plan to open the centre in 2027. Visit our dedicated Oriel website to learn more.
Fly through our new centre
You can view the inside of the new centre in these animations that 'fly you through' different parts of the building. The first animation shows a patient journey to an outpatients department (outpatients services will be located on four floors of the centre). The second animation showcases areas that staff and students will use. Please note the finishes and furnishings may change.
Oriel patient journey animation
video transcript
This computer generated animation starts in the foreground of our new centre for advancing Eye Health on the upper ground floor.
To the right of the main doors is the Friends of Moorfields office and to the left is a café.
This is one of the two entrances to the centre.
Entering through a double set of glass doors we enter the entrance lobby.
A large reception desk is on the left after the checking kiosks.
There is seating nearby.
In the centre patient support services will be located in one central area.
We move towards the staircase and lifts.
After entering the lift we emerge on level five, an outpatients department.
Outpatients will be located on four levels in the centre. There is a waiting area with coloured seating on the right.
We move across the bridge to a reception area for an outpatient clinic.
Moving through a corridor with movable seating on the right, we turn left into the glaucoma diagnostics imaging suite.
We used our recently renovated diagnostics hubs at our network sites to design these diagnostic spaces and incorporate best practice. This will mean patients can remain in one area for their entire visit.
We leave the diagnostic suite to enter a patient consultation room.
And then return to the patient waiting area.
Back at reception, we turn right and view the pharmacy hatch for medicine collection. Again, saving patients from needing to visit other areas of the building.
We now return to the lifts on level five, via the bridge. As we turn to end the lift you can see the staircase.
Now on the lower ground floor, we exit the building, glimpsing accident and emergency on the right at the other entrance to the centre.
The new centre is due to open in 2027.
Oriel staff journey animation
video transcript
This computer generated animation starts in the foreground of our new centre for
advancing eye health, on the lower ground floor. This is one of the centre's two entrances.
To the right of the main doors is a café, which can be accessed from the street.
Entering through a double set of glass doors the accident and emergency
department is on the left.
There is seating in the lobby and patient check kiosks.
As we move further into the building, we see a staircase to the upper ground floor main atrium, where the main reception is located.
We proceed through the lower ground floor atrium to the main lifts in the central building tower.
We enter the lifts and emerge on level six.
As we exit the lift, there is a collaboration space filled with lounge seating, tables and plants for informal staff or student meetings.
Through the windows on the left you can glimpse views of the roof terrace and garden, with the central London Skyline in the background.
Walking across the bridge to the north wing we make our way to the clinical teaching and education area. There are further views of the roof terrace and garden available for all staff and students to enjoy.
Moving through the breakout foyer, we enter one of the larger education rooms that can also be used for staff meetings. This room can be split into two via a dividing petition to suit class sizes. The furniture is flexible to accommodate different arrangements for
different learning activities. Each room has audiovisual technology to allow for hybrid
meetings.
We turn now to the breakout area, where students can reflect on their learning and network in a relaxed setting.
We now travel to one of the UCL Institute of Opthalmology wet lab areas. Wet labs are experimental research laboratories where we handle biological samples, tissue DNA and various chemicals, some of which may be hazardous. The spaces have been carefully designed to allow for safe working in a controlled environment.
In the new centre, we have designed standardised wet lab neighbourhoods where each research group will have access to open plan primary wet labs, workstation areas, specialist secondary labs and core laboratory facilities.
Making our way out of the workstation areas, on the left is a staff area to be shared by Moorfields and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology staff.
Now entering the south wing, on the left is the joint Moorfields and UCL education hub where all educators and administrators will be based.
There are several classrooms sized for eight to 12 people.
We now move towards the staff restaurant, a bright open space for staff
and students to eat and recharge. Large windows bring light into the restaurant, which has a relaxed feel with plants and comfortable furniture.
The outdoor terrace will offer a calm and relaxing space to unwind. There are other relaxation spaces nearby for staff and students, such as St Pancras Gardens.
User Group chairs from Moorfields and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology have helped shape the design of the new centre working closely with their colleagues and the design team.
Returning to the lifts on level six, we pass the atrium staircase on the way
back down to the upper ground floor.
On the left are information hubs for the Friends of Moorfields and Moorfields Eye Charity, patient support services, including the patient advice liaison service.
We pass the patient check-in kiosks on the right as we exit the building at the other entrance.
The new centre is due to open in 2027.
