When Bendigo’s new $630 million public hospital opened in January 2017 it bore all the hallmarks of a modern, state-of-the-art health facility. Now it is also a calling card for Victoria’s growing reputation as a leader in new construction technologies.
Through Local Jobs First – Victorian Industry Participation Policy, the Bendigo Hospital has been delivered with 90% local content – providing hundreds of opportunities for local businesses, workers and apprentices and trainees.
The hospital build used leading edge virtual digital technologies – Building Information Modelling (BIM) – to bring together the design, engineering, construction and facilities management teams through a digitised model that put together exactly how the hospital would look and operate and sequencing the construction.
Another key aspect of the construction phase was the use of 47 large scale prefabricated service riser modules that were manufactured off-site and installed in the hospital.
The Victorian-based company, A.G. Coombs led the BIM work, mechanical services design and installation. Site foremen used tablets to manage real-time information, plan and track installation works, help manage site teams and compile project records. The use of new technology cut construction time by a month, reduced building waste, improved workplace safety, and substantially reduced on-site clashes, and continues to provide information for the ongoing management of installed building systems.