ESS Modular - Clonmel Hospital

Project Details

Project - Clonmel Hospital Extension 

Sector - Healthcare

Technology - Modular 

Company - ESS Modular

Project Overview

ESS Modular recently handed over a state-of-the art 3,300sqm, 40-bedroom ward extension at Clonmel Hospital. Using a precision manufacturing offsite process significantly reduced the time required on-site, with the new hospital facility delivered in less than 12 months.

The new development consists of a two-storey accommodation block linked to the main hospital featuring 40 en-suite bedrooms, reception and lounge areas, kitchen facilities, staff changing rooms, store-rooms and drug preparation facilities. Each floor boasts 20 new bedrooms and the ground floor has been allocated as ‘Surgical 3’ as it directly links to the surgical area of the main hospital. The first floor will be used as a general ward block, known as ‘Medical 4’. The bedrooms vary in size to accommodate different usages including: semi-ambulant, bariatric, fully-ambulant and assisted bedrooms.

“This new building provides the hospital with a modern department that will facilitate the delivery of safe, effective and efficient patient care,” says Maria Barry, General Manager, Clonmel Hospital. “It will assist in the reducing significantly the numbers of patients who are currently treated on trolleys in clinically inappropriate spaces and it will reduce the level of over-crowding on the wards and within the Emergency Department.

“The staff welcomes the development as it provides a physical environment area that is bright and spacious allowing our staff to care for patients with dignity. It also provides greater patient privacy and comfort as all rooms are single and en-suite. In addition it will allow us to safely manage patients who require isolation, thus  preventing and controlling the spread of infection. I would like to acknowledge the work of ESS Modular and hospital management who’s collaboration and communication ensured a successful build within 12 months.”

Design
The modular ward extension was designed by ESS Modular who partnered with O’Connell Mahon Architects and Arup Consultants, to bring the works from planning stage through to detailed design, contractor tender and construction. The design brief specified the need for a naturally-ventilated building and with this in mind, all bedrooms were designed on the building perimeter and fitted with large openable windows with the main clinical rooms centrally-located and fed from an air-handling unit.  The new building is split into two blocks which works with the geography of the site and allows for direct access from the corridor of the new building on the ground floor direct to the central corridor and stairwell of the main hospital.

Site Works
In addition to the delivery of the new building, ESS Modular was also responsible for all ground works which featured a site clearance, a reduced level dig, radon and under-building drainage, building of a 140m retaining wall, foundations, connection of mains water, gas and electric connection, provision of a 171m3 attenuation tank and soft landscaping.

“We are proud to have handed over this much needed facility, said Paul Tierney, Managing Director, ESS Modular. “We are all too aware of the enormous pressures facing our healthcare system and it is an honour to be able to have helped to alleviate some of these pressures. Our modular construction process is ideal for projects such as these as we can deliver top quality, fully compliant buildings much quicker than traditionally constructed facilities.”

As the role of offsite manufacture continues to expand across the construction sector, ESS Modular has also recently been appointed to two major construction frameworks in the UK. This includes a £2 billion housing framework with London-based housing association, Hyde Group. Hyde plans to build around 11,000 new homes in London and the southeast over the next five years. In addition, Spatial Initiative, in which ESS Modular is a joint venture partner, has been appointed to a new £3 billion Department for Education (DfE) modular schools’ framework. This appointment marks the fourth successful framework selection for the company which has secured 16 new school builds over the last two years. 

For more information visit: www.essmodular.com or follow on social media @essmodular