The schedule was then developed over
several months in consultation with hospital
management, heads of departments and medical
specialists. At the same time the design, including
mechanical, electrical, electronic, ITC systems
and requirements, was developed based on
Netcare’s newly released and updated national
standard specifications, environmental and
sustainability requirements.
The design was developed to:
• ensure that access, egress and horizontal and
vertical flows remained consistent with principles
set for the ‘shell’;
• further develop the relationship of functional
zones (e.g. Theatres adjacent to CSSD and ICU’s);
• cater for organic growth to permit the hospital to
grow over time from the ±250 beds at opening
to a future total of ±330 beds;
• meet or better world class hospital design to
accommodate the state-of-the-art equipment
(including robotic theatre equipment) required;
• meet or better Green building and sustainability objectives;
• comply fully with Department of Health (DoH)
regulations.
An iteractive process followed during which the
designed areas were compared to and validated
against private hospital space norms developed
by Netcare and their quantity surveyors, Mbatha
Walters & Simpson. The functional areas were
optimised by comparing factors such as:
• area per bed for each ICU, HCU or ward type
and functionality;
• area per theatre and for the theatre complex;
• storage, service and plant room areas by function
• circulation and hospital street;
• area per bed for the entire hospital (excluding
consulting suites).
This process resulted in reduced fit out
construction area of ±2,000m2.
GROWTH, FLEXIBILITY AND
INNOVATIVE DESIGN
The design process also focused on provision
of future expansion space which was created
through four empty pockets of ±500m2, each left
immediately adjacent to the functional zones (total
of 2,152m2 ) , which catered for organic growth on
individual floors. An example of this is the planned
expansion from 10 to 13 theatres at Level 9. In
addition to these expansion pockets the entire
8th floor (±6,000m2 ) presents a large expansion
opportunity which could involve the introduction
of new medical specialities to the hospital.
60
Christiaan Barnard