Springfield Hospital

Lean design delivers significant savings on time and materials

Walsh were appointed as engineers on the Springfield Forensic and Non-Forensic buildings. These consist of two blocks of five storeys, approximately 110m by 75m on plan.

It is a mixed-use scheme consisting of hospital wards, car parking, plant and retail space. Together both blocks provide over 150 bedrooms and a wide array of treatment rooms, facilities and quiet garden spaces.

One block contains two large roof gardens protected by a series of cantilevering concrete piers with a high specification finish.

Walsh were able to derive a lean design to minimise slab depths while removing columns. We were able to remove a large amount of column heads and downstands, significantly simplifying the slab soffits.

One of the new blocks overhangs and existing building by up to 5.5m. Walsh were able to design a cantilevering shear wall system to achieve the offset and minimise the disruption to the existing building.

Ground conditions were also poor on the site and the garden buildups resulted in heavy building weights. Walsh worked with our geotechnical specialists to design a lean ground-bearing raft foundation for both buildings to support the heavy weight of the building.