Brighton hospital maximises benefits of off-site construction
Resembling Noah’s Ark, this new children’s hospital in Brighton enjoyed forethought at the planning stage to enable M&E contractor SES to maximise the benefits of offsite construction and prefabrication.
The new £64 million Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton has enabled building-services company SES to demonstrate key examples of onsite innovation, coupled with the extensive use of off-site construction and prefabrication contributing significantly to financial and time savings. Peter Edwards of SES, who is project manager for the building-services contract, worked closely with architect BDP, main contractor Kajima and the client team throughout the planning process. He says, ‘The success of prefabrication relies heavily on forethought during the planning and design stages. SES has been involved in the “top-table” discussions throughout the project to ensure that the building services are given the necessary consideration to maximise the benefits on both on-site installation time and also end use — ultimately ensuring client satisfaction without compromise.’ The use of practical trials enables SES to introduce a number of on-site innovations, in line with the company’s best-practice policy. They included the use of M&E workstations and mobile tool wardrobes on each floor to enhance the working environment for site operatives and improve efficiency. Close relationships with the supply chain allowed a systematic approach to the off-loading and distribution of materials via suppliers adopting a stock-management system with a just-in-time delivery policy. SES’s £10 million contract for this hospital includes the installation and commissioning of all associated M&E services to the 100-bed facility. It includes three operating theatres, diagnostic and treatment facilities, intensive-care unit and parent accommodation with children’s facilities.
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