Yorkon News Archives

16/08/2005 – Yorkon Awarded Second Independent Treatment Centre Contract

Award-winning off-site construction specialist and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, has been awarded its second contract for a new independent treatment centre for the NHS.

Portsmouth ISTC The £6m contract awarded by AMEC is for a rainscreen-clad modular building at St Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth. Developed and operated by Mercury Health in partnership with Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust, the new, purpose-designed healthcare facility is a key part of the Government's drive to reduce patient waiting times by dramatically increasing the capacity of the NHS.

Designed by AMEC in conjunction with Nightingale Associates, the centre is scheduled for completion at the end of 2005 and will provide a wide range of NHS services including a minor injuries unit, a walk-in advice centre, diagnostics such as x-ray and ultrasound, and non-emergency day surgery procedures.

Yorkon has manufactured and is currently fitting out the two-storey 3,300sqm building, which will comprise theatres, an endoscopy suite, preparation zone, sterilisation unit, recovery bays, consulting rooms, reception and office accommodation.

The architectural design features cedar cladding at ground floor level, white rendering and light grey ceramic granite to add interest at either end of the building. Areas of curtain walling will span two storeys and horizontal bands of windows will be finished in blue.

A cantilevered canopy will run the full length of the front elevation to provide shelter for the main entrance and the drop-off zone. Sun pipes will be used to maximise natural light along the first floor of the building and cedar louvres will give shade from the sun.

Commenting on the new contract, Keith Blanshard, Director and General Manager of Yorkon said, "This scheme is excellent news for the people of Hampshire and we are delighted to be involved in another of the Government's ISTC projects. The use of off-site construction will significantly reduce the programme time to the benefit of patient care and with the additional advantages of improved quality, less disruption to the adjacent hospital during construction and flexibility in design and layout."

He added, "This is our second ISTC contract – the treatment centre in Shepton Mallet has just been handed over on time and on budget."

"Treatment centres are a unique opportunity to use private sector expertise to increase healthcare capacity across the UK, reducing waiting times, extending patient choice and improving facilities. This is a really exciting development which will bring major benefits to the population of Portsmouth and the surrounding areas."

72 steel-framed modules were manufactured by Yorkon off-site in York and craned into position ready for fitting out and completion of the external claddings.

Editor's Notes

The Portsmouth Treatment Centre project is Yorkon's second contract for AMEC, the international project management and services company. Last year, a new four-storey office building – Aviation House – was completed at London City Airport.
The Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre in Somerset is the UK's first independent sector treatment centre to be built using modular construction and Yorkon's largest healthcare contract.
Yorkon was voted Off-site Manufacturing Specialist of the Year at the Specialist Contractor Awards for the second consecutive year. The awards are organised in association with the Department of Trade and Industry.
The advantages of off-site construction for healthcare projects include: