Wolverhampton Hospital

Terrapin carried out work on a major extension at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton. The pre-operative assessment centre and day care facility had to be completed within 17 weeks in order to avoid disrupting the hospital’s planned theatre programme. This meant that Terrapin fabricated the entire building off-site and then erected it over a single weekend to meet the contractor’s very tight deadlines.

Terrapin was chosen as we were able to turn the project around quickly and to meet bespoke requirements, including providing specialist steelwork to the roof. Part of The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, the architects specified Terrapin’s Unitrex off-site system to meet the demanding schedule. Terrapin worked with the main contractor Arthur M Griffiths & Son Ltd to phase activity on-site, so that it fitted around the hospital’s requirements.

Terrapin supplied our Unitrex off-site building system in a single storey shell format, with Arthur M Griffiths & Son Ltd carrying out the internal fit out and mechanical and electrical installations. On most projects, Terrapin carries out the building services work, however on this project it was carried out by the contractor to meet the client’s specific requirements. This demonstrates Terrapin’s flexible approach and the versatility of our off-site buildings.

The Unitrex system was able to create the large clear-span rooms required on the new day care ward, by eliminating the need for internal supporting columns. The superstructure was made watertight extremely quickly, enabling internal works to start immediately, which naturally helped reduce the build schedule.

This unique off-site and lightweight construction method is a fundamental part of Terrapin’s approach, meaning fewer deliveries to site, which was crucial to minimise disruption to patients and staff at New Cross Hospital. The close proximity of other buildings meant that Terrapin’s off-site solution was ideal, as the Unitrex system is particularly well suited to projects where there is restricted site access. This is because the modular building system is pre-engineering and then delivered in panelised ‘flat pack’ form for speedy erection and finishing on-site.

"It was really important that the new building could be delivered to site quickly and efficiently within a tight build schedule,” said Tariq Hakim, architect for The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust. “It worked really well with Terrapin supplying the shell of the building to our exact specific, within a very short timeframe and AM Griffiths completing the internal works. We are delighted with the quality of the completed building.”

Wolverhampton Hospital

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