Modular Construction – The Way Forward For Healthcare

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Modular building expert Ben Knight of Ausco Modular explains why pre-fabricated modular buildings are the solution for healthcare professionals in the 21st Century

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With the face of construction in Australia rapidly changing, there are now more options than ever when it comes to building hospitals, medical clinics and treatment facilities.
To have your next healthcare infrastructure project delivered faster and with less inconvenience, it’s worth considering modular building technologies.
With 55 years’ experience in Australia’s modular building industry and 17 branches across Australia, Ausco Modular is a true industry leader.
The company has a proven track record in providing efficient building solutions within strict timeframes to a range of industries.
Delivering full turnkey modular solutions through a unique 360 Degree Service, Ausco Modular guides clients throughout the entire build from start to finish by providing expert advice in design, build and installation.
Not to be confused with outdated demountable buildings, Ausco’s buildings are aesthetically pleasing and can be custom-made to suit all needs.
Ausco Modular General Manager - Modular Sale, Ben Knight, said modular building solutions were becoming increasingly popular with healthcare professionals for many reasons.
“Providing safe and healthy medical facilities is incredibly important to our healthcare clients and we have helped them achieve reduced waiting lists and greater room availability through our services,” he said.
“Reducing the time spent on building new facilities means they can be operational quicker, allowing better medical services to be provided.
This is a major priority for our clients and we’re proud to help them deliver on their building objectives time after time.
“Ausco Modular recently partnered with fitout and refurbishment specialists SHAPE Group to deliver and install 84 modular units for Canberra Hospital, allowing patients and medical staff to occupy the Hospital well ahead of schedule.”
Modular building technology was also used to construct a brand new medical clinic in Ivanhoe in September 2015 for NSW Health Infrastructure.
The Ivanhoe HealthOne Clinic redevelopment saw Ausco Modular replace the town’s existing ageing health facility in Far West New South Wales, providing its signature turnkey solution across design, construction and installation.
The now-completed 300m² facility includes consult and treatment rooms, dental, podiatry and back of house areas for staff and medical supplies.
Australian and global research shows that pre-fabricated and modular buildings save operators a significant amount of time over the span of a project. It’s estimated that modular buildings can decrease project schedules by 66 per cent.
On a major transport infrastructure project in Sydney, Ausco Modular was able to reduce the in-situ build estimate time from 36 to 18 months – a 50 per cent reduction in time, which saved the client millions of dollars in build-related costs.
As well as cutting down on precious time, modular buildings serve a range of other benefits to operators because the construction process is managed off-site.
“Using modular technologies ensures noise interruptions are kept to a minimum as the majority of work is conducted in an Ausco Modular factory,” Ben said.
“As such, healthcare operators are able to run existing areas of hospitals or medical centres with minimal impact on the treatment and care of existing patients and hospital staff.
“Neighbouring businesses and residents also experience far less inconveniences that come with an in-situ build because there’s less traffic entering and exiting the site as tradespeople work on the building off-site.”
Ben said modular buildings provide a safer option for project managers.
“The benefits of being constructed in a factory-controlled setting are vast,” he said.
“Ausco Modular employs qualified tradespeople across all of our factories, all of whom are required to adhere to strict safety protocols.
“Our factories have achieved ISO9001, ISO14001 and AS 4801 accreditations through independent industry regulators for quality, environmental and safety.
“These allow for maximum productivity through a better quality of build, better finish and the testing of all services prior to installation.
“Weather can be unpredictable in Australia and delay in-situ builds considerably. With the majority of construction done off-site with modular buildings, unfavourable weather doesn’t impact the timeline of our builds.”
Waste and pollutants is another key consideration for healthcare professionals when it comes to building new facilities.
With modular buildings constructed off-site, minimal waste and dust is left on-site, which minimises impact on existing facilities and patients.

With Ausco Modular’s extensive network across Australia and longstanding history of providing quality made-to-order modular buildings, it’s worthwhile considering Ausco Modular for your next healthcare build.

“Our modular buildings have a proven track record of allowing earlier occupancy of new facilities, which result in a faster return on your investment.”
Ben Knight
Ausco Modular Director – Strategy and Business Development
For more information on Ausco Modular and its healthcare offering visit www.ausco.com.au or call 13 62 11.