Terrapin completes offsite extension project

Terrapin has fabricated a building offsite for an extension at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, and then erected over one weekend to meet the project's tight deadlines.

Terrapin was chosen as they were able to turn the project round quickly and to meet bespoke requirements.

This included providing specialist steelwork to the roof, which was required to house around 10 tonnes of air handling and associated plant.

Part of The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, the architects specified Terrapin's Unitrex offsite system.

Terrapin worked with the main contractor Arthur M Griffiths and Son to phase activity on site, so that it fitted around the hospital's requirements.

Terrapin supplied its Unitrex offsite building system in a single storey shell format, with Arthur M Griffiths and Son 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 its offsite 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.

It does this by allowing two or more modules to be supported on 'goalpost' beams, which multispan units.

There is no requirement for internally supported walls in Unitrex buildings and clear spans of columns can be made up to 12m.

The superstructure is made watertight quickly, enabling internal works to start immediately, which naturally helps reduce the build schedule.

This offsite and lightweight construction method is a fundamental part of Terrapin's approach, which means fewer deliveries to site, which was crucial to minimise disruption to patients and staff at New Cross Hospital.

The Unitrex system is particularly well suited to projects where there is restricted site access.

The modular building system is pre-engineering and then delivered in panelised flat pack form for speedy erection and finishing on site.

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