Ortus by Morris+Company will be presented at the AT Awards live finals on 17 September 2025. Learn more about the project below.

Completed
2013

ORTUS is a mental health learning centre commissioned by Maudsley Charity and completed in 2013 to provide inclusive, accessible education and community engagement in mental health. Designed in collaboration with stakeholders including NHS clinicians, academics, and service users, the building houses flexible, naturally lit spaces for teaching, training, and exhibitions. A robust in-situ concrete and brick structure supports both aesthetic clarity and long-term durability, while sustainable systems such as passive ventilation, ground-source heat, and photovoltaics underpin its environmental performance.

A central design challenge was balancing openness and accessibility with clinical safety and technical requirements. This was addressed through spatial planning that promotes inclusion without compromising function, such as open-plan shared spaces, operable partitions, and a sunlit central stairwell. Acoustic and AV needs were met without undermining passive strategies, and the procurement approach—via a collaborative ACA PPC2000 contract—ensured the project was delivered on time, on budget, and without dispute.

Since opening, ORTUS has adapted to accommodate new uses without major alteration. It has hosted over 700 events in the past year alone, drawing NHS staff, students, and members of the public. The building has proven flexible enough to support new functions, including a simulation training suite and an expanded café and reception area. These modifications were carried out with minimal disruption, thanks to the original design’s adaptability and thoughtful services planning.

Sustainability has been integral to the project, with strategies that include thermal mass, passive ventilation, and efficient energy systems. The building holds a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and EPC ‘A’, and continues to perform reliably over a decade later. ORTUS offers a replicable model for civic architecture grounded in empathy, adaptability, and environmental responsibility, demonstrating how early engagement and human-centred design can deliver long-lasting social and operational value.

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