Already shaping up to be a global exemplar in modern hospital design, Webuild’s New Women and Babies Hospital project brings the most innovative engineering from around the world to Perth.
When Webuild was appointed by the WA Government as Managing Contractor for the New Women and Babies Hospital project in May, it represented much more than a stamp of approval for the international infrastructure group. It also represented a significant step forward for healthcare delivery and hospital infrastructure in WA, says Joel Stringer, Webuild’s Executive Vice President Operations – Buildings and Project Director for the hospital.
Just as importantly, in the engineering space it has enabled a coming together of international capabilities and best-practices from other hospital builds around the world.
“Webuild has delivered over 200 healthcare facilities globally, adding up to around 27,000 beds,” Stringer says. “We have a long history of delivering healthcare solutions in over 50 countries.”
Webuild’s global subject matter expert, Director Product Engineering – Buildings, Dr Andrea Zamperetti, is based in Milan, has a PhD in healthcare design and will be involved in design and planning. One of Dr Zamperetti’s team members has been brought to Australia to help with the project.
At the same time, a large local workforce including a leading team of engineers has been engaged to ensure the project leaves a legacy of highly skilled healthcare infrastructure professionals.
What is engineered into a modern hospital?
Best practice healthcare innovation comes in three forms, Stringer says.
Climate resilience
“Engineering is really that first line of defence,” he says. “It’s about selecting durable, climate-fit materials and systems that are fit for purpose and fit for the local climactic conditions. Thermal and air quality resilience is of major importance, including the HVAC system’s filtering.”
“Then, of course, there are simple things like water and energy system, design to resist disruption to ensure patient wellbeing, and the protection of critical services.”
Social equity
“This is about ensuring the engineering systems are as inclusive as possible. So, if we talk about lifts, way finding, duress systems, etc., they must suit various types of mobility, language groups and different cultural contexts.”
“It’s also making sure we’re designing for decentralised care, for telehealth and making sure medical teams can service people that aren’t on the campus. We need safe, culturally secure infrastructure.”
Economic opportunity
“Webuild does a lot of Public Private Partnerships (PPP). When you’re designing for a PPP, you have to design for maximum duration, prioritising durable systems efficiency to reduce long-term maintenance costs.”
“We must deliver future impact through innovative engineering, making sure BIM systems and the service of the plant and equipment are clearly aligned, so we can see how different systems are performing and predict maintenance digitally, for example. And it must be truly future ready, meaning modularity and scalability are built in for when the facility grows or patient flows change.”
The evolving role of engineers
The broad range of priorities and responsibilities in such a build mean the role of the engineer can no longer be a narrowly technical one.
Every engineer involved in the project will have to be collaborative and creative, with a role that centres as much around community engagement as it does around nuts and bolts, Stringer says.
“Engineers of today can’t be one-dimensional,” he says. “There’s so much responsibility now that we need well-rounded individuals in the role of engineers. That’s one of the reasons we engage so heavily at the university level, to make sure we’re playing our part in growing this capability.”
The physical reality of Webuild’s project presence in Perth – a floor in the QV1 building shared by the WA Government, consultants on the project and other contractors – reflects this collaborative necessity.
“Today, engineers are creators,” Stringer says. “But engineers can only create when they truly engage with all stakeholders. It’s no longer about sending emails to people you’ve never met and waiting for responses. Success comes from being in the same place and solving problems together.”
While the state government is leading an intense and thorough community outreach program around the hospital project, Webuild also recognises the importance of social license through its own engagement program.
“We have a contractual relationship with the state, of course,” Stringer says. “But we can’t operate unless we have a genuine investment in communities where we deliver projects, and those communities engage in what we’re doing.”
Local roots, global experience
Through Clough, Webuild has been a part of Australia’s infrastructure landscape, particularly in WA, since 1919. Today, Webuild is an organisation with local roots and a truly global reach.
“We bring together global capability with local delivery,” Stringer says. “That’s important for the quality of our projects, and it’s of real benefit to our engineers.”
“We’re able to mobilise quickly in any geography, partnering with local contractors and adapting to local conditions. We offer global experience and insight to create the very best outcomes for the project, its stakeholders, and for our engineers who carry that experience on to other projects.”
Click here for more
