A quicker, safer, cost-efficient, and less disruptive semi-modular construction solution

Canberra Hospital Building 8 is a four-storey new build delivered by SHAPE under a Design and Construct model. It forms part of SHAPE’s ongoing work on the more than $600 million Canberra Hospital Expansion Project, one of the ACT Government’s largest healthcare infrastructure projects to deliver new, state-of-the-art facilities for the region’s growing population.

One of the main goals of the project was to minimise disruptions to healthcare operations and improve the clinical space by consolidating various hospital teams under one roof, while also providing additional medical and office spaces.

To meet the client’s key values of speed, safety, efficiency and minimal disruption to operations and the public, plus the limited space for on-site works, the SHAPE team utilised an innovative semi-modular style of construction. This involved the prefabrication of most of the structure off-site with efficient on-site assembly, allowing the fitout to commence immediately once a floor was completed. Each of the floor plates were constructed in seven days with the building structure completed over a five-week period.

A first of its kind in Canberra, this semi-modular solution not only meant a more efficient and cost-effective build, but it led to improved environmental performance and reduced waste. The mega panel façade system has superior thermal and acoustic performance than traditional cladding, leading to a better façade air leakage performance. This airtight solution, combined with the high-performance chilled beam HVAC system that provides industry-leading air quality throughout the building, has led to an estimated 20% efficiency in power consumption and significantly reduced maintenance requirements.

The project was completed with zero Lost Time Injuries (LTI) with 97,000 hours on site. By proceeding with modular methods, the project significantly reduced various safety risks due to shorter on-site construction periods. The mega panel façade system was delivered and installed on-site via a crane, with handrails attached, removing the majority of working at heights risks, as the team was able to work off booms to secure a panel before the next one was dropped by the crane.

As a result of SHAPE’s innovation on the Canberra Hospital Building 8, SHAPE has recently been listed as finalists in the Master Builders ACT’s 2023 Master Builders and Asset Construction Hire Excellence Awards in the ‘Project displaying technical difficulty or innovation and Commercial or retail fitout, refurb or alteration over $10m’ category.