The old buildings of Southmead Hospital are being given a new lease of life as part of construction on the second phase of the Brunel building.
Demolition of the old Southmead wards has now been completed.
And more than half of the stone from the demolished old buildings is being incorporated into the new one taking shape on the Southmead Hospital site.
[[{"fid":"999996156","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"An aerial view of the site of the Brunel building redevelopment at Southmead Hospital Bristol taken in July","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"An aerial view of the site of the Brunel building redevelopment at Southmead Hospital Bristol taken in July"},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"An aerial view of the site of the Brunel building redevelopment at Southmead Hospital Bristol taken in July","title":"An aerial view of the site of the Brunel building redevelopment at Southmead Hospital Bristol taken in July","style":"margin: 5px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default"},"link_text":null}]]Once the new main hospital building opened in May 2014 the relocation of patients made way for the demolition of the old wards ahead of the second phase of construction work on the Brunel.
The planned extension to the building will provide a car park for patients and visitors, a community arts space, a cycling centre and more staff parking.
The project, which is due to be completed by late spring next year, also includes making the area outside the front of the Brunel building larger to accommodate more buses and creating green space.
Carillion Construction Services considered how it could utilise materials from the old hospital buildings into the next phase of the Brunel ahead of work starting last year.
Using stone from the demolished ward buildings means there is a reduction in the amount of waste to be disposed of, which in turn reduces materials being sent to landfill, fewer journeys to take it away from the site and a smaller carbon footprint for the construction project. It also means that the fabric of the hospital buildings that served many people over decades has been incorporated into the new build.
About 18,000 cubic metres of stone is being used on the second phase of the Brunel building, with all planned to come from rubble from the demolition, which is being processed for construction on-site.
Visitors to the Southmead Hospital site can now see the new building taking shape as an extension to the Brunel building.
From the front of the Brunel the new structure stretches along from the entrance towards the Bristol Breast Care Centre and NGS Macmillan Wellbeing Centre in Beaufort House. From the Patient Check-In area inside the hospital building, further construction can be seen behind the Brunel.
The concrete frame that will be the superstructure of the new multi-storey car-park is more than 50 per cent complete, and envelope cladding and glazing has begun.
Works on ground level parking, which will provide spaces for staff are also well underway.
“With demolition work now complete the focus is on construction and we are looking forward to seeing the completed building next year.
“We think it is lovely that the stone from the old hospital buildings has been incorporated into the second phase of the Brunel as it continues its history, while also reducing our impact on the environment.
“We want to thank patients and visitors for their patience during this second phase of the redevelopment, we understand it has not been ideal and ask you bear with us just a little longer. We think the parking on site right next to the main hospital building will make life easier for most patients and the improved landscaping will complement the project perfectly.”
Steve Evans, Carillion project manager said: “Carillion places great emphasis on sustainable construction and we are pleased to have been able to reuse so much of the stone from the demolition elsewhere on the project. This has dramatically reduced the amount of lorry movements to and from site helping to lessen the impact on the environment and local community.”
There is more information about the second phase of the Brunel building here.