Flexible image and intervention center upgraded for the future
The Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, has the competence and potential to conduct the most advanced treatments and surgery. This is also a center for world-leading medical research and education. However, medical development is moving at a fast pace and the previous buildings were not able to live up to today’s requirements.
Skanska was commissioned by Västfastigheter to build a new image and intervention center.
New needs require new solutions
The imaging and intervention center at Sahlgrenska fulfills a need in imaging diagnostics that was previously unavailable. Skanska was commissioned by Västfastigheter to carry out new construction and redevelopment of the new center. The whole project was characterized by good planning and close contact with the client and the daily operations.
As the image and intervention center is located centrally at Sahlgrenska, there were great demands in terms of the design of the building and the environment between the houses.
The image and intervention center consists of two wings and an interconnecting section where stairwells and elevator shafts were placed. The interconnecting building was provided with a glass roof to let daylight in. The property blends nicely into the surroundings with classic brick facades and wooden windows that are partly equipped with radiation shielding glass.
Stage one started in 2012
The first sod turning was performed in January 2012. We started stage one, which consisted of foundation work, on-site cast concrete frames, a forged section for installation floors, façade plastering, roofing using RF-banding, as well as a connecting building with stairways and an elevator to the neighboring building.
The construction work was very complex and the worksite was tight and busy. Three of the property’s sides were connected with existing buildings. In order not to affect nearby operations with noise and vibrations, we have had to work extra carefully with the foundation work.
There are two basement floors in the new building, one of which is below the groundwater level.
The foundation work was conducted using steel driven piles and careful blasting. By this means, surrounding operations have been able to continue throughout the construction period.
High bearing capacity requirements
The carcass is built with on-site cast concrete and is six floors high. It is designed to meet high requirements in terms of bearing capacity and vibrations. Throughout the building, floor structures are dimensioned to cope with up to ten tons per square meter.
We completed stage one in December 2013 and went on to stage two which consists of supplementary carcass work and installations for operations, such as hybrid and operating theaters.
The installations in the center are highly advanced in order to match current and future technology. Among other innovations, it is possible for image diagnostics to be transmitted via video links.
Certified Green Building
The image and intervention center is certified in accordance with the rules of the Swedish Green Building Council, which is a Swedish certification system based on the regulations governing construction and official rules. Certification covers three areas – interior environment, energy and materials.
Throughout the entire project, we have strived to use environmentally friendly materials and work methods. Long-lasting materials, with a low maintenance requirement, are used to the maximum extent.
The image and intervention center contributes to the region’s development with higher accessibility to new medical technology in imaging-based diagnostics.
The Sahlgrenska image and intervention center was completed by the end of 2015.
