Bringing Maggie's Newcastle into a new era

Cullinan Studio brings Maggie’s, Newcastle into a new era with a timber-frame annexe, helping the cancer centre to support more people across the North East.

Maggie’s centres are designed to be a breathing space away from the clinical hospital – a home away from home. Maggie’s, Newcastle, which is in the grounds of the Freeman Hospital, was designed by Ted Cullinan of Cullinan Studio as a warm, safe, and uplifting space. It is designed so that wherever users are in the building they feel connected to nature, with plenty of natural daylight, and views onto the flowers and trees of the wild garden created around it, and the courtyard within it. Since opening in 2013, the centre has been a remarkable success, with the local need for the special support the centre offers exceeding all expectations.

To continue to reach more people and keep growing, Maggie’s asked Cullinan Studio to add a new annexe to the main building following the palette and rhythm of the existing centre. A decade on from the original design, Cullinan Studio saw an opportunity to take a new approach and move the design into the next era of sustainability.

The new annexe has its own entrance route, with a large multipurpose room and two smaller rooms flooded with natural light and air. Keeping the same setting out and grid of the original building, the annexe is designed with a mass timber frame in place of a concrete frame. The lighter structural weight of the timber allowed a reduction in the amount of foundations required and the need for spoil removal, making significant cost savings.

Photo courtesy of Maggie’s. Photos at top of page courtesy of David Lake Photography.

As a place of care and support for cancer patients, the design of Maggie’s, Newcastle places a particular emphasis on mental and physical wellbeing by connecting its users to nature, both inside and outside of the building. In the new annexe, timber columns, beams, and a cross-laminated timber roof deck and partitions are exposed internally, with the wood creating a warm, tactile effect that can be appreciated with multiple senses. Brown quarry tiles and lime plaster continue the material language of the main building, and around the outer walls metal panels with perforated leaf patterns provide privacy and shading, while allowing views to be focused on the courtyard.

Externally, the new annexe replicates many aspects of the original building, continuing the corten cladding, glazing and rooftop hedge. A new array of solar panels generates renewable energy for the building. The annexe completes the third side of the courtyard providing additional shelter within this external space. In addition, a new north courtyard has been created at the entrance to the annexe providing further opportunities for planting.

The completion of the new annexe was marked by an official opening on Friday 25th April 2025. Guests included patron for Maggie’s in the North East Dame Margaret Barbour and Newcastle Fundraising Board Chair Lorna Moran who has been at the forefront of fundraising from before the centre opened in 2013. Lily Jencks, daughter of the charity’s founder Maggie Keswick Jencks, was also in attendance.

Left to right: Lily Jencks, Lorna Moran, Karen Verrill, Dame Laura Lee DBE. Photo courtesy of KG Photography Ltd.

Maggie’s Chief Executive Dame Laura Lee, DBE, said:

“I am delighted to be here today to officially open the annexe to our Newcastle centre, and celebrate being able to support even more people from across the North East living with cancer.
“Maggie’s is there for everyone who needs it, and we are free with no appointment or referral necessary. We know this makes a huge difference to helping people cope with their diagnosis - from getting ready for cancer treatment, help with potential side-effects, support after treatment, providing benefits advice or coping with advanced cancer.
“I am so grateful to be here and to everyone who has made this happen, especially Lorna Moran.”

Karen Verrill, Maggie’s, Newcastle Centre Head, said:

“Ever since we first opened, we have seen a huge demand for our expert cancer care from people living with cancer from across the North East. I am delighted this incredible annexe will now allow us to support even more people at what is possibly the hardest time of their lives and we are so grateful to the community of the North East for their continued support.”

Dame Margaret Barbour added:

“I am delighted that the new annexe at Maggie’s Newcastle is officially open. The additional space will allow Karen and the team to support even more people affected by a cancer diagnosis across the region. The Barbour Foundation was set up to help support organisations and charities in the North-East and has supported Maggie’s Newcastle since it opened in 2013. We look forward to continuing to support the centre and see the impact the additional space has for those facing a cancer diagnosis.”

View from the main Maggie’s, Newcastle building to the new annexe, forming a third side to the landscaped courtyard. Photo courtesy of David Lake Photography.

Lucy Brittain, Project Director at Cullinan Studio said:

“Through the design of the new annexe, we have had the opportunity to visit Maggie’s Newcastle regularly over the last few years, and experience how the centre has influenced people’s lives since 2013. We have been inspired by stories from visitors on how the building has played a crucial role in their wellbeing. We have been equally inspired by the staff working at Maggie’s, with the fantastic centre head, Karen, telling us how the building lifts her spirits each day, to enable her to have the strength to support the numerous patients who benefit from the centre.”

In 2024, Maggie’s, Newcastle supported nearly 16,000 visits from people in need of support but now that number is expected to rise. Of the nearly 16,000 visits 30% were for cancer support sessions delivered by cancer support specialists, and 26% were for financial support. Of the remainder, Maggie’s delivered specific sessions including managing stress, gentle exercises, nutrition, bereavement support and facilitated support groups, e.g. Men’s support group, living with advanced cancer, menopause, and fatigue workshops.