Build may start in October
WORK constructing the first of the twin buildings comprising the new Dunedin Hospital will start in early October, should fasttrack consent be granted.
The Ministry of Health, which already has approval for the earthworks and foundations, has now lodged its application for the main structure of the sixstorey outpatient building, where simple sameday procedures and pre and postoperative consultations will be carried out.
‘‘The outpatient building is both the smallest and least complex in terms of its design and construction,’’ the consent application said.
‘‘It is, however, the building which is the most urgently required in order to replace/supplement dilapidated facilities at the existing Dunedin Hospital.’’
In 2018 the ministry decided to build the outpatient building — to be sited at the northern end of the inner city site — first to meet those needs, and open it by late 2025.
It has yet to lodge applications to build the larger, inpatient building on the former Cadbury factory site, the bridges which will link the two buildings, or a logistics centre.
The application said getting started on the outpatient building as soon as possible would allow the hospital project to remain on schedule.
‘‘Neither the application nor any of its supporting technical reports have placed reliance on the future development of the inpatient building or logistics centre,’’ the application said.
‘‘While those buildings will eventually form part of the completed new Dunedin Hospital project, this application seeks consent for the outpatient building as a standalone facility.’’
The final design for the outpatient building is for a fivestorey building with a sixth floor with plant on top.
It has a total of 15,574sq m in floor space and a maximum building height of 26.1m: the rooftop plant enclosure will rise an additional 6.26m.
Services to be provided within the building will include allied health care (including dental, occupational therapy and rehabilitation services), antenatal care, day surgery procedures, nonurgent radiology, laboratory assessments and pathology collection.
The building will also house administration staff, retail spaces, storage, laundry and staff rooms.
The architecture report said the design and layout of the building had been a collaborative process between the design team and mana whenua.
The ministry also intends to achieve a fivestar Green Star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council: if successful, it would be one of the few health facilities of its kind to achieve that outcome.
The application included extensive studies of how the proposed building might shade the surrounding streets or obstruct views from surrounding suburbs.
‘‘The building casts less shade on the pedestrian environment compared to the 20m permitted height envelope and the effects of wind from the building on pedestrian amenity have been minimised as far as practicable.
‘‘The building will therefore
❛ The building casts less shade on the pedestrian environment . . . and the effects of wind from the building on pedestrian amenity have been minimised as far as practicable
minimise adverse effects on the skyline vista of the city and maintain and enhance streetscape amenity consistent with assessment matters.’’
Construction would begin with a structural steel frame being erected, followed by composite steel flooring and reinforcement and poured concrete slabs.
All rooftop plant equipment would be placed after the rooftop concrete platform was poured and before the external walls were closed.
‘‘Once the primary structure is in place, the facade elements . . . will be attached to it at each floor level.’’
The finished building would be surrounded by terraced gardens, extensive tree and lowlevel planting, and a series of landscape features and four carved recycled timber pouwhenua.
The ministry expected the build project would add $106 million to the Dunedin GDP, boost household incomes by $60 million, and create 987 FTE roles.
The application is being considered under a fasttrack procedure set up for projects considered to contribute to postpandemic economic recovery, and will be heard by an independent panel.