Lego-style: Modular build underway at Mercy University Hospital
Prebuilt modulars are delivered and lifted into position at the Mercy University Hospital on Sheares Street, Cork Picture: Eddie O'Hare
THE process of assembling a three-storey modular extension on a reasonably tight site at the Mercy University Hospital, as part of an ongoing €28m capital investment programme, got underway this week.
The operation, involving East Cork Crane Hire, will see almost 30 pods supplied and installed this week by ESS Modular (Extra Space Solutions), who will complete the fit out over the coming months.
The project, on Sheares Street, involves the replacement by MUH of an outdated prefabricated structure with a new and expanded build.
Shane O’Donnell Technical Services Office said the fast track project "will be a great facility for the radiology department and the hospital and will improve the patient experience."
MUH CEO, Sandra Daly, said the considerable investment in the hospital "allows it to address its urgent infrastructural and clinical needs".
The old radiology department building was over 40 years old and originally catered for approximately 26,000 examinations per annum. Today upwards of 75,000 examinations are carried out each year. The new accommodation will incorporate five ultrasound screening rooms and the re-development works are expected to be complete by early autumn.
The plans to expand and redevelop the hospital campus were outlined in its 2020 Campus Development Plan which envisages eventually quadrupling the hospital capacity from 22,000 sq m to 90,200 sq m. The redevelopment includes a combination of major new capital developments and the expansion, conversion and refurbishment of existing buildings. As part of this, MUH is planning to use some of the cross-river Distillery Fields site which it jointly owns with UCC. The site is on the opposite bank of the River Lee from the main hospital and there’s already a pedestrian bridge linking the two. A second pedestrian bridge directly in front of the main hospital is within Cork City Council’s development plans. A joint master plan has been developed with UCC and the MUH Campus study is complementary to this plan, according to the hospital.
The Mercy plans to relocate a number of clinical buildings to the Distillery Fields site, such as elective day case, outpatient clinics and ambulatory care units, and to develop an integrated healthcare centre for academic teaching, research and training.
UCC and the Tyndall Institute also have plans for the immediate locale, which would involve doubling the size of the Institute on Cork’s North Mall. They sought planning permission in April for the expansion and for a new tri-span bridge but concerns have been raised by Cork City Council because the plan proposes to demolish the former Irish Distilleries Bottling Plant, designed by architect Frank Murphy and regarded as an example of classic 1960s architecture. The Council has sought more information from UCC/Tyndall in relation to the project and it is expected to be some time before this is received.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
