Mainzeal wins hospital tenders

NEWS RELEASE
November 9, 2009

Mainzeal wins hospital tenders

Mainzeal Property and Construction is extending its expertise in New Zealand’s healthcare infrastructure with recent wins for two hospital redevelopments.

The construction company has won tenders for the $83 million redevelopment of Rotorua Hospital and the $16.5 million phase-one stage redevelopment of Bowen Hospital in Wellington.

This follows the successful completion by Mainzeal earlier this year of the new $30 million Braemar Hospital in Hamilton.

Mainzeal chief executive Peter Gomm says the healthcare industry is one of Mainzeal’s core business sectors and he welcomes the opportunity to bring the company’s expertise to these latest projects.

“We’re delighted to have been awarded these tenders in this competitive climate, affirming Mainzeal can be relied upon to deliver certainty and deliver seamlessly so we don’t affect hospital operations.”

Mainzeal has been involved in the construction or redevelopment of more than 100 healthcare facilities over the last 10 years, ranging from complex tertiary hospitals and A&E treatment facilities to specialist ECU and surgical clinics throughout the country.

Peter Gomm says the construction of medical facilities demands special skill and flexibility to meet public challenges around hygiene and patient wellbeing and to minimise disruption of services.

The redevelopment of Rotorua hospital presents technical challenges and safety requirements in relation to geothermal activity in the region.

Director of the Lakes Health Services Improvement Project at the Lakes District Health Board, Nick Saville-Wood, says the presence of ground heat and gasses at the site requires a special membrane to be laid below the foundations.

“This has been done before but our foundations and measures to protect them and the building would be unique for hospitals in New Zealand,” says Nick Saville-Wood.

Peter Gomm says Mainzeal gained experience with this type of geotechnical environment during the company’s involvement in developing the Rotorua Events Centre and this helped the company win the $83 million tender.

The project also presents an opportunity for Mainzeal to provide innovation around sustainable construction, incorporating energy-saving features such as the use of geothermal for hot water and space warmth generation. The use of absorption chillers that operate from geothermal heat rather than electricity are also being investigated and, if implemented, will significantly reduce energy expenses for the Lakes District Health Board.

“As one of New Zealand’s largest construction companies, we are committed to maintaining a leadership position in sustainable construction and utilising cutting edge innovations that contribute directly to affordable, comfortable, healthy and sustainable buildings,” says Peter Gomm.

The $16.5 million phase-one redevelopment of private healthcare facility Bowen Hospital, owned by Wakefield Health, will see the construction of the “Bowen Centre” to provide increased numbers of quality specialist consulting rooms, a new endoscopy suite, expanded and enhanced radiology services and increased car parking spaces.

Construction is due to begin immediately and Wakefield Health chairman John Calder says Mainzeal’s expertise and commitment to the project will allow them to remain at the forefront of private surgical facilities.

“The redevelopment will create a state of the art facility which will benefit patients, medical practitioners and staff of the private surgical services we offer,” says Mr Calder.

Ends

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