CASE STUDY The works included the provision of a new reception area and treatment rooms.
MJ C larke com ple tes refurbishment works at R o y a l V ic to ria E y e & E a r Hos p ita l MJ Clarke & Sons’ refurbishment works at the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital were completed under strict Covid-19 guidelines, but also at a time when building materials costs were increasing at an unprecedented rate.
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n January 2021, MJ Clarke & Sons was contracted for the reconfiguration, refurbishment and modernisation of the Emergency Department and adjoining Radiology Department at the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, Adelaide Road, Dublin.
THE BRIEF
The brief comprised the improvement of the entrance area to these two departments, provision of a new reception and waiting area for both departments, new triage, secure drugs room, treatment rooms, ENT treatment rooms and telehealth room. In addition, the contract also covered the provision of a new coffee dock, nurses’ station, and office area.
THE WORKS
All mechanical and electrical services were replaced and upgraded, a new services and communications room provided, and the existing services room refurbished and upgraded. Roof upgrade works consisted of the installation of a new fall arrest system, access ladder, and associated roof works to facilitate a new mechanical ventilation and heat recovery plant at roof level.
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The contract also covered enabling works, demolitions, floor works, wall works and ceiling works.
PROJECT CHALLENGES
MJ Clarke had to adhere to strict delivery dates on the programme and brought in a large team of specialist subcontractors and suppliers. By the time the team was on site, there was already a strict Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedure in place that all of Clarke’s teams were operating under. But there was also the additional challenges of local labour shortages, a worldwide shortage of materials and massive hikes in materials prices. MJ Clarke project manager Mattie Nelson explains how the team addressed these challenges: “Once the site opened, every person was fully aware of what was required of them under the Covid-19 guidelines. As much of the sector was shut down in early 2021, all of our teams were delighted to be on site and stuck rigidly to the rules. Our site guidelines included social distancing, mask-wearing, standard work protocols and dividing up the project into safe working areas.”
