Modular construction has a long history of successful application in the Healthcare sector. A notable early example of a modular healthcare building is the Renkioi Hospital in Turkey. This innovative military hospital, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for use by the British Army in 1855 was a prefabricated structure built from wood.
The building was commissioned by the British government on the strength of a letter by Florence Nightingale to The Times, which lamented poor conditions in the Selimiye Barracks in Scutari, where soldiers suffered from typhoid, malaria and dysentery.
Renoki was run as a model facility – and there were only 50 deaths among the 1,300 patients treated. By contrast, death rates at the Selimiye Barracks facility were thought to be up to 10 times higher. Nightingale later praised Renkioi and referred to the facility as “those magnificent huts”.
A Modern Method of Healthcare Construction
Over 150 years later, modular construction is still immensely popular within the Healthcare sector. So, why are UK Healthcare leaders continuing to commission modular construction projects over traditionally-built equivalents? Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits modular buildings can provide for hospitals and healthcare facilities .,.
Cost-saving
Project spend is a key consideration for any construction project. With this in mind, you’ll be pleased to learn that a well-planned modular healthcare construction project can offer significant cost savings (25-50%) when compared to traditional building methods.
Faster Construction Times
Modular healthcare buildings usually have faster turnaround times than bricks-and-mortar structures. In fact, a typical modular building can be completed 20-50% faster. This is an important consideration for many hospital leaders, who may need a new facility to be built quickly to accommodate an increase in patient demand, or the changing needs of their hospital.
Minimised On-site Disruption
When commissioning a healthcare construction project, reducing disruption at facilities requiring round-the-clock access is often a high priority. Whilst traditional construction work can be highly intrusive, this issue can largely be avoided with modular buildings.
The modular components which comprise complete buildings are manufactured entirely off-site in a controlled factory setting. Following this, the modular components can then be assembled on site, with less disruption to site access or the important work of hospital staff.
More Hygienic
On a related note, thanks to a faster and less invasive build process, choosing modular construction allows healthcare leaders to minimise hygiene concerns from dust, dirt, water and other contaminants, which is especially important in a healthcare setting.
A Greener Construction Method
Yet another benefit of modular healthcare construction is the lower volume of waste produced, when compared to alternative methods. Thanks to the streamlined design and time-efficient build process, the amount of waste going to landfill can be significantly reduced.
Carbon emissions can also be lowered, as the need for traditional construction crews and materials to travel to the site is largely reduced.
Considering a Modular Healthcare Project? We are Here for You.
If you are thinking about commissioning a modular healthcare building, please consider Cotaplan. Since establishing in 1982, we have been reliably delivering construction projects for a wide range of healthcare applications, including modular hospital construction, clinics, NHS buildings, doctors surgeries, wards, pharmacies – and much more.
For more information and to discuss your requirements, please contact our team free of charge on 0800 7999049. You can also reach us by filling out our simple Online Contact Form.
