Kier was Principal Supply Chain Partner appointed by Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust under the ProCure21 framework to provide the new facility as part of a 拢20m contract 鈥� the biggest development in the hospital鈥檚 recent history. The building was manufactured and fitted out off site and installed by Yorkon in a 拢10m sub-contract, reducing time on site to just 10 months.
Designed by Tangram Architects, the scheme increased the Trust鈥檚 capacity in time for the peak winter period.聽 It accommodates a new children鈥檚 department on the ground floor and an elective care centre and surgical ward on the upper floor, with plant rooms above.
In order to reduce the construction programme for the new building to the benefit of patient care, Kier and the Trust took the decision to use an off-site solution.聽 The approach also allowed an existing ward building on the site to remain in use until just days before the second phase of modules arrived on site.聽
The new purpose-designed facilities include 68 inpatient beds, consultation and treatment rooms, nurses鈥� stations, two isolation beds, administrative offices, a school room, children鈥檚 dining room, utility room, stores, toilets and ancillary rooms.
Nick Chatten, Director of Corporate Development at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said, 鈥淭his project is the first phase in a programme of redevelopment at Colchester General Hospital.聽 Speed was the principal reason for using an off-site solution for the building.聽 We needed to have the new facilities operational in time for the busy winter period.鈥澛犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅�
鈥淭he finished building is very impressive.聽 It provides a good patient environment for both children in the children鈥檚 department and adults in the elective care centre and the new surgical ward.聽 It addresses the issues of patient privacy and dignity, and we are pleased with the ambience, feel, space and quiet.聽 The scheme is also now helping us to provide additional capacity elsewhere in the hospital to deal with unexpected pressures.鈥�
鈥淟ocated near the main entrance, the building creates a strong image for the hospital with its striking architectural lines.聽 And most importantly, it has been well received by patients and staff.鈥�
Commenting on the use of off-site construction, Nick Bache, Director at Kier Eastern, said, 鈥淎 team from Kier visited the Yorkon production centre and one of their completed projects at the outset, and were impressed with the quality and approach.聽 Off-site construction has provided us with a fast-track site solution, safer working conditions and a considerable reduction in waste sent to landfill.鈥�
鈥淭he logistics of the project, particularly for the two module delivery phases, required careful planning between the Trust, Kier and Yorkon, and I am pleased to report, it went very well.聽 We are very pleased with the finished building.鈥澛犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅�
David Johnson, Director and General Manager of Yorkon, said, 鈥淭his is one of the most challenging healthcare projects we have undertaken to date.聽 The shape of the site demanded a very complex modular layout, this is a highly constrained site, and there was only a short window for construction.鈥�
148 steel-framed modules up to 14m long and 3.3m wide, and each weighing up to 12 tonnes, were delivered and installed in just 17 days.聽 The units were partially fitted out off site, including internal partitioning and first fix M&E services.
The building, which has achieved a BREEAM 鈥榲ery good鈥� rating (targeted), has created an attractive and welcoming environment for staff and patients, particularly given its prominent location next to the hospital鈥檚 main entrance.聽 It has deeply articulated fa莽ades finished in a palette of materials, including white render, vertical bands of rainscreen cladding and curtain walling.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
The new Yorkon pre-installed concrete floor has been used throughout 鈥� the first time this award-winning modular technology has been used for a complete building.聽 It is an innovative off-site solution ideal for high traffic areas and to accommodate sensitive hospital equipment.
The children鈥檚 department is arranged around two large central courtyards that provide a protected play area and a sensory garden. Internally it features multi-coloured and patterned flooring, walls in bright colours, murals and a distinctive design for the reception and nurses鈥� station, which as well as creating a cheerful interior, assists in way finding.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
