The challenge
Building a healthcare facility can be challenging especially when multiple design considerations need to be addressed.
Building a healthcare facility can be challenging especially when multiple design considerations need to be addressed.
Through a coordinated approach and implementation of BIM, Arcadis was able to address all project challenges on time and within budget.
More than the achievements and accolades, Northern Beaches Hospital is NSW’s answer to the need for better healthcare services of its growing population.
hospital beds
cost reduction through value engineering
hospital to achieve a Green Star Rating within NSW
Before 2018, residents of Frenchs Forest with serious medical conditions had to travel to Royal North Shore Hospital to receive medical care. With a growing and aging population, the government of New South Wales recognised the need to build a healthcare facility that will serve both public and private patients much closer to their homes.
Northern Beaches Hospital became an integral piece of NSW’s healthcare plan that aims to provide world-class healthcare services for the local population. But the scope and complexity of the project proved to be challenging. Thus, the project’s main contractor, CPB Contractors, sought Arcadis’ expertise in structural, civil, façade and traffic engineering to ensure the successful completion of Northern Beaches Hospital.
Building a hospital is very much similar to the nature of the healthcare industry — complex and dynamic. In the case of Northern Beaches Hospital, we faced stringent requirements in the designs of the operating theaters and the ground floor which houses sensitive imaging equipment and requires unhindered movements of vehicles and pedestrians. Key to the delivery of this project was good understanding of the client’s needs and expectations and strong working relationship with all stakeholders, including NSW Health and the Roads and Maritime Services.
Time and efficiency were two of the client’s main concerns. That is why we extensively implemented building information modeling (BIM) across all disciplines. We also used a single platform called Navisworks to streamline design processes in a 3D space and improve the client’s review with the help of a visual representation of the site. The extensive 3D finite models we produced helped with design improvements and ensured that the structure will be able to withstand extreme events such as earthquake and turbulent winds. The dynamic collaboration between our teams in Sydney and Manila was crucial in reducing the costs and time needed for the project. The Manila team did much of the analysis requirements while our team in Sydney performed verification and project management roles.
The Northern Beaches Hospital project was completed ahead of time and within budget despite its scale and complexity. Through value engineering, we helped the client shorten manufacturing and installation time and reduce the costs for façade development by 30%. The use of BIM in reviewing the designs led to a seamless collaboration among all parties involved due to better process transparency.
Northern Beaches Hospital has received a long list of awards and distinctions over the years, including being the first Green Star hospital in NSW, thanks to the dedication and innovations employed in its development. But more importantly, the completion of Northern Beaches Hospital has resulted in tangible improvements in healthcare services in the area by providing a state-of-the-art facility and reducing the load on Manly and Royal North Shores hospitals.