MTX were awarded the contract to provide a new 2 storey modular building to Leicester Royal Infirmary.
The Requirements
The Solution
Working in conjunction with our design partners, MTX designed and produced a bespoke 2 storey modular building, linking into the existing hospital. Over 1080m² of new accommodation, MTX delivered an operating theatre, catheter lab, recovery suites, outpatients and diagnostics facilities, all necessary ancillary and a dedicated plantroom.
The theatre and catheter lab were constructed on the first floor from a modular framed traditional cast in situ concrete floor. The steel structure was upgraded to minimise vibration while the floor and ceiling mounted c-arms are operational.
The design of the facility included a IPS / UPS which served the theatre, recovery beds and catheter lab, and was interfaced to back up the Philips imaging equipment in the event of power cut. The IPS circuits in the rooms are interlaced to provide N+1 resilience. The UPS was designed to provide 1 hour autonomy in the event of normal supply being lost.
A full suite of medical gases, including Oxygen, Nitrous Oxide, Medical Air, Surgical Air, Medical Vacuum and AGSS was provided in a series of retractable and articulated pendants in both rooms. They were carefully coordinated with both floor and ceiling mounted c-arms in the catheter lab, to ensure that the room was functional as both a catheter lab and operating theatre. Independent simplex AGSS pumps were provided to each theatre and a spare pump was provided for backup.
A dry riser was installed within the staircase to ensure all parts of the building were accessible to the fire service.
All of the ground floor was installed as a traditional volumetric modular building, this allowed our M&E contractors to fit out the first fix M&E containment in the factory, prior to arriving on site. The AHU’s were also fabricated offsite and dropped in place in the basement plant room, prior to installing the building.
LRI EMCHC achieved a BREEAM score of very good, and an airtightness of 5.2. The U-values are compliant with Approved Document L2B.
In addition, this project was Highly Commended in the Best Modular/Mobile Healthcare Facility category, at Building Better Healthcare Awards 2021.
Main Considerations
MTX were faced with the challenge of rescuing a project on the verge of collapse, because it could not be brought within budget. We took a Stage 3 traditional concrete frame building and redesigned it as a steel frame hybrid structure, bringing it back into budget through VE design and standardised elements.
As the first floor contained a cardiac theatre and catheter lab, we were unable to compromise on the structural performance. The hybrid design allowed prefinished concrete cassettes on the ground floor and a steel framed off site steel MMC solution on the first floor, with a traditional cast in situ slab. The lightweight steel framed structure and brick slip façade reduced the overall size of the piled foundation, reducing costs, while still achieving the desired look.
