CONSTRUCTION
A circulation corridor and handwashing station. Evolving the design
Two staircase structures were included within the scope of the contract. These were built on the east and west elevation, with one designed to hold a patient evacuation lift. After the main building works were underway, we refocused on these elements, and carried out extensive surveys, which revealed that there were numerous services located along the route of the foundations. As a result, we worked closely with the structural engineer and designers to relocate the stairways to ensure that critical services weren’t disrupted.
A piled solution was adopted to bridge gas, electricity, water, data, foul, and even storm drainage, all running through the footprints. This involved drilling a hole eight metres underground, and the installation of a cage that was then filled with concrete. This created a pillar for a ground beam that formed the base for the new steelwork required. The main construction of the staircase structures was concurrent with the main build, but will be completed later. We ensured that the staircases were safe and usable by the time the ward opened, so that the cladding and remaining work could continue safely, and without disruption.
Overcoming logistical challenges This project presented many logistical challenges. Our working area was completely surrounded by a traffic route, and that affected the design and management of our site compound. A main road that runs south of the hospital had to be diverted around the compound in a new one-way system. Once the steelwork was in place, we then had to increase our working area to allow for the delivery of additional materials, and create a new traffic route to enable the footings to be installed for the two staircases. Ensuring suitable access was another challenge. For example, a route had to kept open through the compound to allow mobile MRI scanners to be transferred to other hospitals over the weekends.
64 Health Estate Journal March 2021
A single room. Avoiding disruption
Minimising disruption was crucial throughout the project. Extensive surveys were carried out to ensure that occupiers would not be disturbed by any noise or vibrations. Very flexible working, including out of hours, was also required to meet the timescales and minimise disruption. Any particularly noisy construction work, such as cutting, was done at set times, usually very early in the morning. Effective communication was essential throughout. We worked closely with the hospital’s construction consultancy, Kendall Kingscott, to develop the design as work progressed, refining any elements as and when required.
To ensure that the programme was kept on track, weekly meetings were held with sub-contractors, and a weekly update provided to the client. As the project progressed, our team also worked during the weekend and late into the evening, and team members were on call ‘24/7’ in case the client or hospital staff had any concerns or queries.
Successful delivery
The new cancer care ward was handed over on schedule on 27 November 2020, and was open to patients on 13 December, a day earlier than originally anticipated. Following the successful handover, work to install the lift is scheduled to begin in April this year, and will be completed in the summer. In the meantime, the cancer care ward has been widely praised, and plans are now being developed to extend vertically with a further two floors.
Matron, Jennifer Milner, said: “This new build is absolutely the result of fantastic teamwork across the Trust, particularly by the Estates team and contractors, who have worked through a really difficult time and still managed to deliver the project in around six months. This new ward gives our patients who are going through some really tough treatments the sort of space and environment that makes that experience a bit easier to cope with.” Dr Matthew Jenner, consultant
haematologist, and Haematology Clinical lead at UHS, added: “Utmost thanks to the team for the phenomenal hard work, and for getting things organised and set up so efficiently against such incredibly tight timelines and opening a day ahead of the original target date. Thank you to LST Projects for their efficiency and adaptability in accommodating modifications along the way. From a clinical perspective we are very grateful to have brand new facilities for patient care.” The structural engineers on the project were Southampton-based White Structures.
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Shaun Tuffin
Shaun Tuffin is Construction director at LST Projects. Based in Hampshire, LST is a family business that was established by Louis S Tuffin more than 125 years ago. Shaun Tuffin has worked for LST for more than two decades. He takes a leading role in managing projects across the healthcare, education, commercial, research, and community sectors. He says his focus is on ‘guiding the LST team to make clients’ lives easier’, and maintaining the company’s ‘Safety in Focus’ motto.
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