Customer: Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) Location: Grafton, Auckland Contract Type: Build

Fast Facts 110 foundation piles between 7.5m and 26m installed over ten weeks during Enabling Works. 240m long services tunnel with an internal dimension of 4m and 3.5m will be built using open-cut-and-cover methodologies. A five-storey, 5,230m2 building will be constructed adjacent to Ronald McDonald House. Seismic resilience of the building will be increased by using bespoke triple friction pendulum bearings. Installation and commission of new hospital backbone services and equipment. Deconstruction and decommissioning of old services and plant building A06.

The A40 Central Plant and Tunnel Project located within the Auckland City Hospital is nearing of the services tunnel and five-storey superstructure.

Auckland City Hospital is a complex stakeholder environment with patients, staff, specialist service providers, emergency vehicles and a helicopter pad all intersecting within a small footprint of Tāmaki Makaurau [Auckland]. The project team has taken into consideration the 24/7 live hospital environment and the wellbeing of stakeholders, and have implemented the least intrusive construction methodology on this project. The team will also monitor dust, noise and vibration impacts during construction via SiteHive, an innovative environmental monitor capable of tracking these levels to ensure compliance with resource consenting. These real-time readings allow the team to promptly respond to any unfavourable construction methods that exceed our constraints.

The McConnell Dowell and Built Environs partnership has successfully completed complex builds across Australasia in the past. The JV will draw heavily on our combined knowledge of deep-foundation construction and open-trench tunnelling methodologies, and expertise in building strategic and significant multi-storey structures that are classed as Importance Level 4 in the Building Code.

Work on this project will include:

New A40 Building

This will be a concrete framed building with precast concrete and glass cladding. The five-storey structure is a building that must be operational immediately after an earthquake or other disastrous events. The construction is standard, apart from the bespoke triple friction pendulum bearings which increases the building’s seismic resilience. The building has deep piled foundations ranging from 7.5m to 26m and also includes double-height spaces for the large chiller and generator halls, plus a roof level double-height cooling tower enclosure. The building is future proofed for the provision of a Health Alliance data centre.

Services Tunnel

The services tunnel has 4 m x 3.5 m internal dimensions and connects the existing Support Building (Building A01) to Building A40 and has a short stub extending to the west of Building A40 for future extension. The end state of the stub will provide a services tunnel ring main through the Campus. The works include large diameter retaining piling, bracing, deep excavation and large in-situ reinforced concrete sections.

Building Services Plant and Equipment Installation and Decommission of Building A06

Building A40 and the Services Tunnel will be fitted out with all the necessary plant, equipment, and services to enable the reduction in reliance upon the Building A06. Following the installation of the services there will be a period of commissioning which will need to be carefully staged and managed to reduce disruption.

Check out the May 2024 progress update below.