RAH Rebuild Concept

[PhilM]

With the Government spending tens of thousands spinning the Marj few seem to want, I thought it might be an opportune time to consider an alternative.

The Government argue that they could not rebuild the RAH without substantial disturbance to the existing facility. That is completely misleading when you consider the available vacant land on the current RAH Site.

We should also be mindful of the importance and proximity of the RAH and Medical School to the Adelaide University.

If we commit to the following long term plan it is evident we could rebuild the RAH with minimal disturbance and end up with a superior facility. Then there is the banked opportunity cost of not using the western rail yards.

Using my poor paint skills I have copied a recent satellite view of the RAH and cut it into stages.

Stage 1 & 2 are large empty blocks that the Government appear to have overlooked. We could immediately commence construction of new teaching and dental buildings on Stage 1. These buildings would be intended to replace the buildings currently in stage 4 & 5 with new facilities.

At the same time we could build a substantial building on Stage 2 to replace the building on Stage 3 or the Building at Stage 3 could be renovated into the Hospital Administration Block with a car park built alongside or behind it.

We would then demolish the buildings in stage 4 and stage 5 and build a new and substantial Eastern Wing to replace the ward buildings in Stage 6 and Stage 8.

Now we demolish the buildings in stage 6 and stage 8 and begin construction of a new main hospital tower including the a new Gilligan's Island helipad and grand entrance abutting the current main building. Once that is complete we can demolish the main tower in stage seven and if necessary, build yet another tower with a substantial underground car parking facility that can be operated by private interests.

The Heritage buildings along Frome Road can be sold off to private medical associated entities or the University Medical School.

[metalMONSTER]

After previously being involved with refurbishment of a hospital - I can tell you first hand that the disruption is huge. The Contractors need large areas for compounds for materials, lunch sheds and other amenities which doesnt fit in with your plan. Also there are OHS regulations which need to be considered when undertaking asbestos removal and maintaining access and egress. System shut downs for work on fire ring routes and essential power are also very disruptive.

The location of current RAH is great, however the logistics just dont work.

[PhilM]

I am not sure you appreciate the amount of vacant land in stages 1 and 2 which by my estimate exceeds 20000 square meters. I am sure they can find space for the workers to have lunch and create a significant loading yard whilst constructing the first couple of buildings with NO site remediation. Given the Myer Centre and many other buildings can be constructed in their own footprint I don't think it is a problem regardless. I superimposed the current main hospital tower over one of the blocks and still there is a couple of acres to play with for loading yards, and of course we don't need a building half that size in Stage 1.

Any removal of asbestos and toxic waste is a carefully managed process and incursions into even an adjacent building is not a real threat. Given my proposal suggests demolishing groups of adjacent buildings cross contamination is even more remote. Furthermore, we are solving tomorrows problem today by removing the contaminants, money in the Bank I say.

There will be NO system shut downs building on a vacant block, be it on Frome Road or the Rail yards. At either site new transformers and back up systems would be an early inclusion.

With new fire systems in new buildings, there will be NO disruption to existing fire facilities there either.

Access and egress from Frome Road can be controlled by the existing traffic lights and there are three major alternate routes to the North East should the road need to be closed on occassion. Try that on Port Road/North Terrace.

The only logistcal difference between construction of buildings on these enormous blocks and the site at the rail yards is that they are in a far better location.

I would have thought the mating habits of the Panda's would be a more emotive counter to my idea.

Can we do it? Not if we listen to the spin!

[Wayno]

what about the problem of noise during construction? i'd imagine many critical care patients could not cope, and the last thing we want is a distracted doctor. just being a devils advocate...

[PhilM]

[quote="Wayno"]what about the problem of noise during construction?" [quote]
Good point Wayno. Given however the majority of "medical specialists" have called for a renovation of the existing buildings, I don't think noise is a key concern for them and what I am proposing is not an ongoing renovation of the current facilities rather rebuilding from the Northern end of the site up.

The RAH Site is approximately 500m long, the construction sites would effectively be broken down into 3 main areas of 200m x 200m each. For perspective, the Myer Centre is approximately 150m wide and 200m deep.

The biggest challenge for noise abatement however will be when demolishing the buildings in Stages 4 and 5 as they are not adjacent the current wards, in fact they are effectively across the entrance road from the IMVS rather than the hospital proper. The building/s constructed on the Stage 4/5 site after construction could replace all of the critical care and theatre facilities as well as the entire eastern wards, thus removing those potentially worst affected from the stage 6-8 demolition/reconstruction.