A recent project at Peterborough Hospital undertaken to address winter pressures highlights the versatility and efficiency offered through modular construction, says specialist in the field, Wernick.
Facing a significant challenge to increase its bed capacity for the winter, the hospital turned to the modular building specialist to construct a new two-storey building comprising 22 modules. This has added 20 beds with en-suite facilities, plus a reception area, pantry, offices, and utility rooms. To ensure a good aesthetic match with the surrounding buildings, a terracotta rainscreen cladding was incorporated.
Wernick says the project ‘demonstrated the effectiveness of modular construction in addressing urgent healthcare infrastructure needs, particularly when speed and quality are paramount’. It said: “Our modular solution not only met the immediate requirements, but also provided a flexible option for future expansion. The rapid installation process helped minimise disruption to ongoing hospital operations, and the project is an example of how modern construction techniques can adapt to the healthcare sector’s evolving needs, offering both efficiency and high-quality patient environments.
David Moss, director of Estates and Facilities at Peterborough Hospital, said: “We needed to expand our hospital bed base because we were under real pressure in the winter months. The additional 20 beds will alleviate some of the pressures we will feel in the winter period. We needed a solution to be delivered quickly, so went for a modular option”.
Wernick explains that manufacturing a building in a factory setting while building work takes place on site cuts construction programmes by approximately 50%. Modules are taken to the site by lorry and craned into position, a process which can take just one or two days. Vehicle movements, and the number of personnel required for each project, can be reduced by as much as 90% compared with many ‘traditional’ build programmes. Lower noise pollution and disturbance to patients, and fewer carbon emissions and diesel fumes from power generators and construction vehicles, result, while sites with tight access points or a small footprint also benefit from decreased movements on site. Where required, modules arrive with interior fixtures and fittings in situ, decreasing the time required at the location further.
Wernick explained: “Modules are constructed to strict standards – ours are manufactured under ISO 9001 and 14001, in a dedicated facility, using a building system which fits the client’s budget and aesthetic. These systems are carefully designed to minimise material waste during the construction phase, and any waste produced is fully recycled, all without compromising the performance of the building for its intended use.”
The look of the building was an important consideration, with the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust specifying external cladding to match the buildings already on site. The result, Wernick says, is a building ‘indistinguishable’ from the surrounding hospital buildings. A link to the main rehabilitation building, provided via an additional module, further creates the illusion of a building ‘that has always been there’.
“There is no end to the aesthetic possibilities of modular buildings, whether you require a building which blends into the landscape, or one which catches the eye,” Wernick explained. “Our in-house design team has the expertise to bring architectural flair to any project. For future-proofing, additional modules can be added later, either alongside, linked to, or on top of the existing building – ideally achieved through early engagement with a modular building supplier. You can expect a typical design life for a modular building of 50 years or more, and with normal general maintenance, it will provide all the comfort you’d expect from a ‘permanent’ building.”
David Moss added: “We’re extremely pleased with the finish of the building. The walls are all an acrylic finish, which is very good for infection prevention and maintenance. We are also delighted with the mechanical and electrical elements – completed very effectively and to a very high standard.”
Mark Carter, Commercial director at Wernick Buildings, commented, “Our work in Peterborough stands as a testament to how modular buildings can effectively relieve the pressures on healthcare facilities, and support the growing demand for accommodation space.”
