BAM Construction has been chosen to convert the Harrogate Convention Centre into an emergency Nightingale hospital to treat coronavirus patients.
The 500-bed facility will add to the capacity of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and is due to be ready as early this weekend (11-12 April), with work having taken no longer than 14 days.
BAM was appointed as the main design and build contractor under the government’s ProCure 22 framework for England, with the assistance of BAM Design. Lead architect is BDP, which has worked on the emergency facility at the Excel Centre, while Silcock Leedham will provide services engineering, with Arcadis LLP providing project management and quantity surveying services.
BAM is converting eight halls to create suitable partitions, flooring, and specialist mechanical and electrical zones and installations. The team is working 24 hours a day, seven days a week in shift patterns in conjunction with medical staff and the army. Following the completion of works, BAM’s facilities management business will help to maintain the facility.
BAM said it was also close to being engaged on two further emergency Nightingale hospitals.
Paul Cleminson, pre-construction director for BAM Construction in the North East, said: “We have mobilised immediately with a team which is working 24 hours in shifts around the clock, following government guidance about safe working and delivering these emergency facilities to assist the effort to support our NHS. We’re very proud to be involved.
“I’m delighted to say we have first rate partners, and that our extensive and recent experience of healthcare projects in the north of England will serve us well, having worked several times with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust over the years.
“Over our distinguished history of service to the UK, BAM has probably built more healthcare schemes than anybody: in excess of 400. We even built emergency hospitals during both world wars. So we feel a sense of poignancy to be doing this now.
“I think it also shows what a fantastic tool the P22 route has proven to be for major healthcare schemes that it can adapt to deliver so quickly in such situations.”
