The Countess of Chester's new £110m Women & Children's Building has secured seven major awards in its first year.

Replacing a former 1970s facility, it brings maternity, neonatal, paediatric and gynaecology services together under one roof - with a focus on modern, family‑focused spaces.

The Women & Children's Building officially opened in September 2025 and was largely shaped by the input of staff, patients and their families.

In the past week, the building has picked up three major awards - including Most Sustainable Building Project of the Year at the Building Innovation Awards, Regional Winner for Best Public of Community Building at the Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Awards, and Project of the Year at the Government Property Awards – the top honour for public sector buildings.

It is also shortlisted for six further national awards, such as the HSJ Towards Net Zero Award and the Building Better Healthcare Awards in November.

The project was delivered in a little over two years using a "domino effect" construction method, meaning crews could build up and across at the same time.

Every ward has single ensuite rooms with floor‑to‑ceiling windows and a pull-out bed for partners to stay overnight. The building also includes a Teens Lounge, a secure, enclosed open-air children's play area, the Lavender Suite for families facing bereavement, and an overnight flat, kitchenette and courtyard for neonatal families.

It is also the first completed NHS building in England to be verified as compliant with the NHS Net Zero Building Standard. Its design has attracted national interest, with NHS organisations visiting Chester to learn from the approach.

Jane Tomkinson, OBE, Chief Executive at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, explained that families "helped shape" the building "from the start".

"Their feedback guided the spaces we created for women, babies and children. Our Family Integrated Care approach is now nationally accredited, and we are already seeing the impact," she added.

"Births and maternity bookings have risen by around ten per cent since opening, showing that local families are putting their trust in us.

"Winning seven awards and being shortlisted for another six in our first year, including at Government level, is a tremendous achievement. It reflects the staff and patient‑informed design, the sustainability, the construction quality and the public value behind the project."

Neighbouring Trusts, commissioners, NHS England and Government teams have expressed interest in learning from its design and sustainability approach.

Jane added: "What is most exciting is how this building is already shaping the future of NHS design. We are seeing interest from across the country because the Women & Children's Building shows what modern, sustainable healthcare can look like.

"If it helps other hospitals deliver better environments for families, then its impact will reach far beyond Chester."

The project team included the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Integrated Health Projects – a joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine – architects AHR and a wide group of specialist consultants and contractors.