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Topping out at new staff accommodation
Hospital and construction staff gathered together to celebrate the topping out on a project to build three new staff accommodation blocks at West Suffolk Hospital.
Barnes Construction is the main contractor for the 12 million pound scheme which, when completed, will replace the existing 40-year-old residences and provide 160 en-suite bedrooms spread across the three five-storey buildings with communal kitchen and living areas including accessible facilities.
Designed by KLH Architects, construction started in November 2017 on the project situated at the back of the Hardwick Lane site. The topping out marks a milestone in the construction process when the building becomes watertight and work starts to progress in earnest on fitting out the interior.
Stephen Dunn, chief executive at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As part of our Trust’s estates investment plan we are excited to be building new accommodation blocks for our staff.
“This new accommodation will help to attract new joiners to our Trust, and will ensure that our clinicians who live on site have a good experience and comfortable home to return to after a long shift.
“I’d like to thank Barnes Construction for their hard work and collaboration on this exciting development; it’s really coming on well and is going to look fantastic when completed.”
Jason McCormack, capital projects manager at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, commented: “It’s important to our Trust that, as well as being a great functional space, every build on site has eco-friendly credentials. These blocks have been created with solar panels, dual-flush toilets, LED lighting double glazing and high levels of insulation to ensure this, and will be a great addition to our site.”
Mark Bailey, divisional director at Barnes Construction, added: “We are delighted to be involved in this important project, and to continue our relationship with the hospital; an association which goes back 20 years.”
Construction work is due to be completed early in 2019, with a period of transition for current residents.
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