Acute Hospital, Coventry
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The Acute Hospital at Coventry forms part of the £340m
Coventry New Hospitals PFI contract currently under construction on
the site of the existing Walsgrave Hospital. The concrete
structural frame comprises a 300mm deep in-situ concrete flat slab
supported on in-situ concrete columns and piled foundations. The
column grid is typically 7.2 x 7.2m with localised area where spans
increase to 8.5m.
Concrete was chosen for the structural frame in order to provide
a minimum construction depth with a flat soffit to allow
uninterrupted service distribution and straightforward fixing and
acoustic/smoke sealing at wall partition heads. Concrete was also
selected in order to meet the stringent vibration criteria.
A new study from Arup has underlined why reinforced concrete
is the best solution for hospital construction. Recently,
steel/composite floors have been marketed as suitable for hospital
use on the basis that they can be designed to meet the stringent
vibration criteria of hospital night wards and operating theatres.
However, until now, no study has quantified the significant
additional construction materials and depth required to enable
steel/composite floors to meet the vibration criteria. Concrete can
meet the vibration criteria at minimal or no extra cost.
Project team
Main contractor: Skanska
Structural engineer: Arup
Architect: Nightingale Associates
Concrete contractor: PC Harrington
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Publication
Hospital Construction