A landmark stage has been reached with the construction of Eastwood Park’s new multi-million pound training facility (HEJ – September 2014).
To mark progress on reaching the highest point of the building, and the halfway stage of construction, a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony recently took place, with a symbolic yew branch attached to the tallest point of to promote good luck. Members of Eastwood Park’s Board and representatives from companies working with main contractor, Pollard, and architects, APG Architecture, attended. The concrete floors have now been laid and the roof installed, with the interior fit-out taking shape.
Eastwood Park in Falfield, South Gloucestershire, is well-known for its specialist hospital support services training in decontamination, medical equipment, estates, and facilities management. When complete the new 3,000 m2 centre will simulate a hospital environment, allowing health professionals to familiarise themselves with new medical equipment and technologies, and undergo practical training. The centre will reportedly be the world’s only one of its kind thus equipped.
With new facilities brought together in one purpose-built building, many of the individual specialist training buildings that have stood since the centre’s operation by the Department of Health as the NHS training centre for hospital engineering from the 1960s to the late 1990s will soon be demolished.
