Heather House Community Nursing Unit (CNU) in Cork City. Image courtesy of MMD Construction.
Summary
In November 2020, the Health Service Executive (HSE) engaged MMD Construction to deliver a rapid-build 60-bed residential healthcare facility at Heather House on St Mary’s Health Campus in Cork City.
ROD acted as both MMD’s structural and civil designer for the Design & Build contract and as technical advisor to the HSE on the scheme. Our design partners were: MCA Architects; Semple & McKillop Ltd. (M&E); FCC Fire Cert Ltd.; and RPS (PSDP).
An Taoiseach Micheal Martin officially opened the facility in June 2022, describing it as “an excellent example of essential development’ and "a welcome example of how services can be provided in an attractive and homely manner.”
Approach
ROD adopted the outcome of studies undertaken as part of the CNU by PPP project to deliver a Preliminary Stage 1 Report, which was used by the HSE South to secure funding for the project.
Solution
The building is similar in structure and layout to the HSE’s CNU specimen model: part two-storey and part three-storey rectangular building, with a central courtyard and ‘doubly-loaded’ circulatory corridor servicing rooms either side of the corridor. It will provide both long and short stay residential accommodation for older persons.
Ancillary site works formed part of the project scope. An extension to the existing vehicular access road and additional car parking spaces were provided as part of enabling works. This allowed undisturbed access to the existing facility during construction.
Highlights
The building was expedited as part of the HSE’s emergency COVID-19 works and, despite the many challenges associated with the pandemic, the building reached substantial completion in a little over 18 months from start to finish.
Challenge
Due to the congested nature of the existing underground services on the campus, several services diversions were required. For example, a reinforced concrete structural solution was required to construct the new building over the large concrete service trench crossing the site.
It’s not every project where the design team, contractor and client pull together so effectively and to the extent they have on this project. What makes this even more special is that this is a project that will undoubtedly go a long way to improving the health service in the North Cork City area.
Garbhan O’Brien
Project Manager, HSE South
Services provided:
- Civil engineering design
- Structural engineering design
- Technical advisory services
