The project was broken down into a number of phases scattered around the hospital campus. It has demonstrated how well we can co-ordinate work in a number of areas in a hospital, at any one time.
The site provides a variety of mental healthcare services including specialist intensive care psychiatric units and various services to suit the needs of patients throughout Dorset. The existing building stock includes grade 2 listed buildings, 80’s built accommodation / treatment blocks and a contemporary new main entrance and extension.
Our project consisted of the refurbishment and re-modelling of four wards and the installation of a new lift in the new entrance foyer. It also included strip out, structural alterations, new walls/ceilings full M&E strip out and renewal, asbestos removal, new security doors and windows and provision of specialist external recreational areas. Because of particular constraints regarding the provision of very specialist alternative accommodation for the patients, the works had to be strictly phased with 2 wards in the 80’s built block having to be completed consecutively before we could start work on 2 wards in the listed building and the new lift in the main entrance.
The phasing constraints were further compounded by the fact that the M&E design could not be verified until after ward areas were vacated, at which point existing solid ceilings could be taken down to expose existing service runs. This required us to have to adopt a very pro-active and open approach to programming the works with very close liaison with the client and his professional team in order for the programme to succeed.
