FEATURE ARTICLES
INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MACKSVILLE HOSPITAL By Crilley, J, Watters, J, Sutton, B, Carson, Z Hansen Yuncken Project Delivery Team
BACKGROUND
T
he $73 million Macksville Hospital is a pivotal health facility for the Mid North Coast that will provide a modern, purpose-built, contemporary health service to locals and the broader region. The development will play a key role in combatting the community’s unique set of health challenges, including chronic illness and complex health needs due to its significant aged and Indigenous population. The facility will provide enhanced patient care while also improving ambulatory care and outpatient treatment including vastly improved facilities in emergency, community health, operating theatres, maternity and inpatient units. This project will bring healthcare in Macksville and the surrounding community into the 21st century. The importance of timely project delivery increased with the emerging global pandemic of COVID-19 in March 2020. Early completion of the development, which was scheduled for late 2020, became critical to ensure the hospital was operational in this time of need. This was made possible through innovative construction techniques, strong program management and design changes implemented throughout the delivery of the project by the Hansen Yuncken team.
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) Building Information Modelling (BIM) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals insight and tools to efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure (Autodesk, 2020). Project design and documentation was developed using 3D modelling software to allow a collaborative process between all stakeholders. These models were managed through a collaboration platform and common data environment.
The platform used on the Macksville Hospital project, BIM 360 Docs, allowed all design discipline teams the ability to seamlessly transfer native design files to drive early coordination and resolution of clashes through realtime design collaboration via the cloud based system. This desktop connectivity provided the design teams could share their models to other stakeholders without the need to upload to external platforms and file share sites. This overcame information loss between multidisciplinary design and supported true project design integration. The progression from Design to Construction phases led to further software implementation to ensure wider access to BIM information. The program used was a cloud-based BIM management collaboration and review platform that connects the project team and stakeholders to a streamlined BIM project workflow from pre-construction through to construction commissioning and completion. This allowed key stakeholders with real time access to up to date project models, site QA and safety documentation.
4-DIMENSIONAL MODELLING The federated models were further developed into 4-Dimensional Building Information Modelling (4D BIM). This refers to the intelligent linking of individual 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) components/models with time or scheduling related information. The term 4D refers to the fourth dimension – time, i.e. 3D plus time. In essence, it provided an interactive video that could simulate the construction of the hospital in real-time offering foresight into the progress and future issues of the build at a date set by the user. The process of linking the model to the construction program/timeline is complex however this facility provides all stakeholders with exceptional value through visualisation and clearer communication of project
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