The Emergency Care Building (ECB), currently under construction at Derriford Hospital, has been nominated for an international award. It is the sole project from the United Kingdom to advance to the final stage. The nomination recognises projects that push construction boundaries through innovative use of software.
Dalux, a construction software company, is providing the Building Information Modelling (BIM) viewer used by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and its partners. Stephen Ford, Project Director for construction partner Willmott Dixon, explained, “The Dalux tool provides the digital backbone for the ECB, allowing us to consolidate project information and connect design, change, coordination and delivery seamlessly. Drawings, reviews and comments are managed in one place, with actions assigned and tracked to give teams clear visibility of responsibilities and decisions. Site teams can access the latest approved information directly where they need it, which improves accuracy and efficiency.”
The ECB is among 25 global projects shortlisted for the award, including the Kranjčevićeva Stadium in Zagreb, Croatia, and Sky Park Tower in Bratislava, Slovakia. Public voting is open until 30 October 2026.
Stuart Windsor, Future Hospital Programme Director at UHP, added, “This award represents the brilliant innovation and modern methods of construction being used as part of our new ECB. We’re incredibly proud to be recognised in this way and to represent the United Kingdom on an international stage. As part of the national New Hospital Programme, we are using digital innovation to improve the speed, quality and flexibility of delivery. By bringing clinicians, operational teams and project partners together through a single digital platform, everyone can access the same information, creating one version of the truth that supports better collaboration, more informed decision-making and ultimately a better hospital for patients.”
Scheduled for completion in April 2029, the ECB will feature four clinical floors of modern facilities designed to support urgent and emergency care services for patients across Plymouth, South Devon, and Cornwall. This development is a key part of the Trust's objective to enhance patient experience, improve clinical environments, and meet the healthcare needs of the growing population it serves.
