The UK’s fastest growing landscape solutions provider completes external works at newly opened Alder Hey Children’s Hospital as part of £250m rebuild.
The much anticipated Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, known as Alder Hey in the Park, was unveiled last month, welcoming patients and families into brand new surroundings. As a part of the £250m rebuild, Ground Control on behalf of Laing O’Rourke won the contract to carry out the entire hard and soft landscaping across the site.
Covering an area of 61,000m2, the hospital includes clinical facilities, an energy centre, atrium, a helipad and a 1,778 space multi-storey car park. There are 270beds (75% ensuite), 13 imaging rooms and 16 operating theatres.
Designed through the eyes of a child, the new hospital is an exciting place; inviting, warm, happy, calming and educational, offering children a ‘home-from-home’ when they need it most. Aside from the new clinic areas, operating theatres and research facilities, the hospital offers children access to play areas, outdoor spaces and striking views of the park.
Taking on the external grounds, Ground Control carried out all hard and soft landscaping across the site on behalf of Laing O’Rourke, which included bulk excavation, surface water drainage, bespoke timber planters and pergolas, colour macadam, natural and pcc paving, timber decking, play equipment, street furniture, topsoil installation and tree and shrub planting.
Specialist elements included the Ground Control fencing team installing bespoke estate railing, a specialist drainage layer and completing works to podium slabs and courtyards. Additionally, the team installed surface finishes to the second storey courtyard garden, approximately 2000 m2 coloured macadam in courtyard areas, hardwood bespoke planters and high specification granite paving. Over 2000m2 of turf was laid on reinforced soil to provide access routes for emergency vehicles.
Ground Control’s Construction Manager, Steve Yates, who managed the project commented: “It’s been great to be involved in such an exciting project that really will provide a much more enjoyable experience for patients and families. Although challenging at times, we completed the work on schedule so that the patients and staff would have access to the outside areas from day one and I feel that the overall look of the landscaping compliments such a distinctive building.”
Alder Hey in the Park is located on part of West Derby’s Springfield Park, close to the original buildings, which will be demolished and transformed into new parkland.
