Schools & Hospitals > Rice Centre, Royal United Hospital

Project Report

RICE CENTRE, ROYAL UNITED HOSPITAL

Client: The Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly
Architect: G2 Architects
Main Contractor: Ken Biggs Contractors Ltd

Requirements 

Our client was based in portacabins at St Martins Hospital in Bath and had been raising money to fund a new building for twelve years.  A site was finally made available at the Royal United Hospital on the existing staff car park.  Our brief was to design and build a new centre to include a reception, patient areas and clinic on the ground floor with offices, meeting rooms and a kitchen at first floor level.

Construction

The 45 week contract commenced with the formation of additional parking areas for the hospital staff as the site was adjacent to the main staff car park.

The new building was constructed using a traditional concrete foundation and reinforced concrete floor slab.  The upper floors were built around a steel frame with concrete beam floors and a timber cut roof with a large accessible roof space for storage and possible future expansion with openings formed but covered over to introduce roof lights at a later date.

The external walls were formed in block and self finishing render with insulation and zinc cladding covering some of the elevations to match timber and metal double glazed windows.

Within the building a large treatment area and offices were constructed using solid block and plastered walls thus reducing the sound and noise transfer to aid patient and consultant privacy and confidentiality. 
A concrete staircase together with a lift provides access to the upper floors where offices, toilets and a kitchen area were formed along with a lecture room and large waiting area with a glazed screen allowing natural light into the building and promoting external views, which also forms the front entrance below.

A new boiler plant and water storage area was built within the roof space and under floor heating was installed to the two lower levels of the building.

Externally a small car park was formed with its own secured entrance. Paths were created, cycle stands installed and low shrubs and bushes planted.

The contract was completed to a high level of workmanship and to the satisfaction of our client.

Value £1,138,200