New Dunedin Hospital – Site Movements

Work on the Outpatient Building site is moving along, with pile cap reinforcing and progressive concrete pours undertaken this week.

Monique Fouwler, Director – Delivery, Infrastructure and Investment, Te Whatu Ora, says these interlinked foundation beams rest on piles driven deep into the ground and provide a stable base for the multi-story building, as the building is situated on the old foreshore.

“The pile caps sit on top of each of the 78 piles and are essentially thick concrete mats which distribute the weight of the building across the foundations,” says Monique Fouwler.

“The first of the structural steelwork is scheduled to be installed in June. Standing at 26 metres tall and intended to stand at full height in one go, the columns will be impressive, and the height of the finished building will be visible for everyone to see,” says Monique Fouwler.

To lift these large steel columns, a bigger crane is required. Components of the 280-tonne crawler crane have been delivered to site for assembly and the public can expect to see this operating following the Easter break. It will be in operation for approximately one year. The smaller 180T crane has already been broken down and will leave site shortly.

“Offsite, the key focus of the team is turning the construction drawings into fabrication drawings, or “shop drawings.” From these, manufacturers make the individual components offsite – such as the beams and the windows.”

On the Inpatient Building site, excavation for the foundations and piles has started. This involves removal of the final elements of the most recently demolished buildings. During the excavation process, a watchful eye is kept out for matters associated with archaeology and evidence of historical site use.

This excavation process will continue for the rest of the year. The exact duration is dependent upon several variables, such as thickness of concrete, soil types, and archaeological discovery.

“The excavation for the Inpatient building will be deeper than the Outpatients patients to accommodate seismic isolation bearings and piling for the building will get started at the beginning of 2024,” says Monique Fouwler.

The Outpatient Building expected completion date is 2025, with the Inpatient Building expected to be completed in 2029.