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Truckloads of Concrete Draws Hospital Crowds

Truckloads of Concrete Draws Hospital Crowds

The region’s biggest hospital building project hit a milestone today with a giant concrete pour.

Work on Waikato Hospital’s five-level Meade Clinical Centre began in late 2009. It will open in three stages from early 2012.

Today, contractors poured 40 loads, or 190m3, of concrete onto a 1620m2 floor area with New Zealand’s largest concrete pump.

Building programme director Ian Wolstencroft said it was a significant milestone for the $118 million project, and big job for such a big building.

“We had 10 trucks on site mixing the concrete, a 10-metre arm and hose reaching over to the site and then 20 staff working on the building to ensure the concrete was poured and placed correctly.”

It took five hours to pour the concrete, followed by three hours to smooth and finish the job.

It is an intricate process and one that is fascinating to watch with many staff and visitors stopping to checkout the view through various construction look-out windows.

The Meade Clinical Centre is the most significant part of Waikato DHB’s building programme, which is also responsible for the new Emergency Department opening in February.

There are two large tower cranes on the site visible from throughout Hamilton.

These cranes will remain part of the Waikato Hospital picture until completion in 2013.

The Waikato DHB Board approved the name for the building after Dr John Anthony Meade former hospital superintendent-in-chief who died in December 1999 aged 84.

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The five-level 32,000m2 building will be parallel to the south side of the hospital’s red corridor and link directly onto the main campus carpark building at three levels.

Most outpatient clinics will be inside along with the interventional suite, same day admissions unit and additional theatres.

The hospital's critical care unit including intensive care and high dependency unit will move into level four.

The scope of work also includes demolition of the Smith Building and refurbishment of two levels in the Waiora Waikato Centre.

For more information about the Building Programme, and The Meade Clinical Centre visit www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/building.

ENDS

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