Westmead Hospital Redevelopment.
Photo courtesy of Multiplex
In 2014, Altus Group was engaged by Health Infrastructure NSW to provide Cost Management services for the planning phases of the Westmead Hospital Redevelopment. Extensive master planning options were prepared, and Altus Group was then engaged through the planning and delivery stages for all works including the brand new Central Acute Services Building (CASB), which was procured through Early Contractor Involvement, with Multiplex selected as the contractor for the project.
Currently, the Westmead Hospital Redevelopment has a project value of approximately $1.1 billion, making it the largest Health Infrastructure project in NSW. The impressive multi-stage Redevelopment comprises over 15 stages of works with numerous contractors.
The 14-storey Central Acute Services Building, which is the most high-profile component of the Westmead Hospital Redevelopment, finished three months ahead of schedule in June 2020. It is a collaboration between Westmead Hospital, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the University of Sydney and Health Infrastructure. The CASB pays tribute to Australia's indigenous history, with the inclusion of artwork and reflective spaces including the Cultural Gathering Place Garden. The new Hospital building comprises two new emergency departments (one for adults and one for children), digital operating theatres, inpatient units, state-of-the-art pharmacy and medical imaging services, cardiac inpatient units, sterilising service, NSW infectious diseases unit, a new helipad, one-and-a-half floors of lecture / teaching space (occupied by the University of Sydney), and a new entry plaza and forecourt featuring landscaped green spaces and connection points to the Parramatta Light Rail and the future Sydney Metro West.
Altus Group was directly involved in the establishment of the overall project budget for the Redevelopment, which has been maintained over the course of the project's detailed planning and delivery. The sheer size of the project and the expanse of the site required highly accurate cost estimating, contingency and escalation cost allocation, along with reliable, complex cost reporting. Being the single Cost Manager across the entire project enabled effective coordination and management of many concurrent packages of work across the operational Westmead Hospital site. It also provided a great learning opportunity for the health team, whose role involved managing various stakeholders throughout the multi-stage Redevelopment, which is one of the first Health Infrastructure jobs to have a dedicated onsite project office.
As a result of its integral role in the Westmead Hospital Development, Altus Group was a finalist for Quantity Surveying Team of the Year at the RICS 2021 Awards.