A brand-new sculpture designed by MK College students and built by some of the College’s staff has been installed at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) to celebrate the rich legacy of medical education at the hospital.
Devised by students from the College’s T Level Construction course, the ‘DNA’ shape of the installation references the human DNA helix, a concept the students came up with during a previous College in the Community Day.
For the past three years, T Level students from the College have taken part in design exercises for the hospital, inspired by the College’s collaboration with MKUH through its annual College in the Community Day. In 2025, MKUH challenged four teams of students to propose an installation to sit outside the main entrance to the hospital.
When the winning design by students Marcia Belle-Barnes, Kerensa Telford-Johns, Ishaan Mohite and Carlotta Taylor-Grecu was selected as the winner, the collaborative effort between several disciplines at the College’s Innovation and Technology Centre (ITC) began to bring the design to life. Staff from Construction, Engineering, Electrical Installations and Administration departments were involved in the construction process.
One of the students involved in the project, Carlotta Taylor-Grecu, commented: “I’m glad that my sketch for this concept was brought to reality. I’m proud of it and I am looking forward to being able to share this creation with everyone who visits the hospital. My inspiration came from the book Inferno by Dan Brown, where I learned about the symbol that represents healthcare. I wanted to honour the past and remember the roots while putting my own spin on it. The two intertwining snakes on the symbol resembled DNA, which in turn represents biology and humanity.”
Assembled at the College’s Green Skills Centre at its Chaffron Way campus, the installation was built using recycled materials such as leftover and surplus items from the College’s Engineering department and recycled plastic provided by MKUH.
Simon Amner, Course Team Leader for Construction at Milton Keynes College Group and the coordinator of the DNA installation project, said, “Guided by the wide-ranging experience of staff in our Innovation & Technology Centre, spanning Engineering, Construction and Design, the students were able to stretch their creativity and technical skills and we were pleased to rise to the challenge alongside them.
“The project was made possible through the generous support of Milton Keynes University Hospital, Block Two Technology, Robus Lighting and staff from the Innovation & Technology Centre at Milton Keynes College, so I’d like to say a huge thank you to them on behalf of my colleagues and students.
“College in the Community Day is a fantastic opportunity for our students to use their skills for the benefit of the local community. After the success of the DNA sculpture project, this year we are partnering with The Parks Trust to host learners from a local primary school in our carpentry workshops, where they will be making bat boxes to be placed around the city. This activity links to the College’s sustainability programme, and we’re all very excited to take part.”
Vanessa Holmes, Charity Director at Milton Keynes University Hospital, said: “It’s wonderful to see the new DNA sculpture created by MK College now installed outside the main entrance to MKUH. It brings a burst of colour and creativity to the space and, just like the other artwork and sculptures across our site, helps to lift the hospital environment.
“We’re especially grateful to the T Level students who carefully designed and built the piece. Their talent and hard work have created something that will be enjoyed by patients, visitors and staff every day. MKUH looks forward to continuing its partnership with MK College students and staff. A huge thank you to everyone who made this beautiful sculpture happen.”
Rebecca Myrie, Head of Community Engagement at MK College, added: “College in the Community Day is an initiative we’re immensely proud of, as it supports our staff and students in engaging with their local communities in a meaningful way. From skills-focused projects like the incredible sculpture designed by our T Level Construction students to activities like litter picking, free mini manicures and haircuts and supporting MK Foodbank, the entire College community comes together on this very special day. We’re very excited about our upcoming College in the Community Day for this year on 25th March and can’t wait to see the positive impact our staff and students make in their local communities”.
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