An alternative approach to a sustainable outcome

Having delivered more than 45 major health facilities globally, we know that the maintenance and operation of hospitals represents a bigger cost to clients than the initial capital outlay.

Therefore design solutions that take a long-term view and find ways to reduce costs over a hospital’s operational life stand to have a huge impact on the financial bottom line, as well as staff and patient wellbeing.

At the recently completed $147 million University of Canberra Public Hospital (UCPH), Multiplex implemented an alternative delivery model to do just this.

The Territory required a delivery method that encouraged “innovation in the design, construction and long-term maintenance of the facility”. It also sought a flexible, interactive tender process that would establish a long-term partnership of delivery for both design and construction, and hard and soft FM services.

Multiplex proposed a bespoke Design, Construct and Maintain (DCM) solution whereby we designed and constructed the new hospital in partnership with facilities manager BGIS, who was collocated within our office and embedded in the decision making. This arrangement enabled the design solution to address both the client and facilities management requirements of the facility for 25 years.

Importantly for ACT Health, our delivery method transferred ‘whole of project’ risk away from the client to the joint contractor and facilities management provider for the contracted 25 years.

The UCPH is a dedicated facility for sub-acute services including rehabilitation and mental health services with 140 overnight inpatient beds and 75 day places, as well as additional outpatient and teaching spaces.

In proposing a design solution, Multiplex consulted with ACT Health and determined how best to meet the needs and operational efficiencies of the various stakeholders for the hospital’s operational life.

We considered things like site orientation, access, user demographics, security and wellbeing, patient welfare and longevity of stay and proposed a number of design modifications. For example the facade was simplified to enable easier cleaning and maintenance, reducing whole-of-life costs for the facility whilst addressing climatic issues, maintenance, storm and fire as well as fresh air and security.

This delivery approach enabled nimble, long-term design decisions to be made to reduce overall costs, while maintaining flexibility and control for ACT Health throughout the delivery and into the operation of the facility.

This model of project and services delivery is a true partnership without the constraints commonly found in similar PPP approaches. Modifications can be made quickly and effectively to represent the best interests of all stakeholders, and achieve the best outcome for patients in a ‘Best for Project’ ethos.

Contact details: www.multiplex.global