The successful delivery of LIHE is a major achievement for the University and our partners. It realises a vision of integrated innovation that supports the future of healthcare delivery, and we are delighted this has been recognised at the European Healthcare Design Awards. This award is a reflection of the collaborative effort and expertise that has gone into the project from conception through to completion.
Nick O’Donnell, Director of Estates & Facilities at King’s
16 June 2025
LIHE wins European Healthcare Design Award
Congratulations to the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering team, who have been awarded Best Project – Life Sciences at the 2025 European Healthcare Design Awards
The London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) was selected from a highly competitive shortlist that included major projects from Australia and Scotland, making this win a standout moment for King’s and its partners.
Since opening in 2024, LIHE, located at St Thomas’ campus, has provided a transformative space where researchers, clinicians, engineers and industry partners come together to develop and translate MedTech solutions. LIHE is uniquely co-located at St Thomas’ Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the UK. The facility represents a pioneering model for integrating cutting-edge research and innovation with the operational fabric of a major hospital.
Judges at the European Healthcare Design Awards, recognised internationally as a leading platform for excellence and innovation in healthcare design, commended the project for its bold vision, collaborative spirit and impact on future models of care. They noted how closely the project team worked with project sponsor, Professor Sebastien Ourselin, to bring the concept to life.
The design of the facility enables real-time collaboration between academic researchers and NHS clinicians, supported by shared workspaces, digital infrastructure and translational labs. Its location at our St Thomas’ campus enhances interaction with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, providing direct links between research and patient care.
The European Healthcare Design Awards celebrate excellence in healthcare innovation and delivery. Projects are judged on design quality, sustainability, impact on patient care, and collaboration – with LIHE standing out in a competitive international field.
From the outset, LIHE was conceived as a place where barriers between disciplines, organisations and sectors could be broken down to accelerate MedTech and digital health innovation. I’m immensely proud of the team and partners who have helped bring this vision into reality. This award highlights what is possible when we design spaces that support collaboration, creativity and translational impact.
Professor Sebastien Ourselin, FREng FMedSci, Director of the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering and project sponsor
Led by King’s in collaboration with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, the design and delivery of LIHE was supported by Estates & Facilities, the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, and the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences (BMEIS).
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